EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERVENTIONS
TO REDUCE MALNUTRITION IN
NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
A systematic review
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
Bachelor Health Sciences
Maastricht University
Improving Quality of Care: 2122-BMZ2024
,Index
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 2
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3
2 Methods ................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Design ............................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Search strategy ................................................................................................................. 4
2.3 In- and exclusion criteria ................................................................................................. 5
2.4 Study screening and data extraction ................................................................................ 6
2.5 Methodological quality assessment .................................................................................. 6
3 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Search results ................................................................................................................... 7
3.2 Results of the methodological quality appraisal .............................................................. 7
3.3 Results of the systematic review ....................................................................................... 9
3.3.1 Setting and participants ............................................................................................. 9
3.3.2 Interventions .............................................................................................................. 9
3.3.3 Measurement instruments ........................................................................................ 10
3.3.4 Outcomes.................................................................................................................. 11
4 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 13
4.1 Main findings .................................................................................................................. 13
4.2 Strengths and limitations ................................................................................................ 13
4.3 Implications for future research and practice ................................................................ 14
4.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 14
References ............................................................................................................................... 15
1
, Abstract
Introduction: Malnutrition in nursing homes is an important international research priority.
To reduce malnutrition in nursing homes, studies have used several interventions, for example
staff educational interventions and environmental modifications. Currently, there is no
literature overview of effective interventions. This review will provide an overview of the
effectiveness of interventions which are aimed to reduce malnutrition in nursing home
residents. The corresponding research question is: “To what extent are interventions to reduce
malnutrition in nursing home residents effective?”
Methods: The systematic review was conducted in PubMed. Studies with sample sizes of
nursing home residents and with interventions aimed to reduce malnutrition were eligible for
inclusion. Moreover, articles have to be written in Dutch or English and must be published
from the year 2000 onwards. Methodological quality of the included articles was assessed by
Joanna Briggs Institute Checklists.
Results: The search strategy identified 117 potentially relevant studies; of these ten articles
were included, from which five were chosen for this review. Four studies used a RCT design.
All studies were based on nutritional interventions to reduce malnutrition. The energy intake
increased in three intervention groups. Body weight also increased in three intervention
groups. Four studies indicate that the applied nutritional intervention can help to prevent or
counteract malnutrition.
Discussion: Interventions in which meals are served in family-style are the most effective to
reduce malnutrition in nursing home residents. Interventions with protein and nutrient
enriched food or drinks can also be effective. Serving additional dairy portions has the
potential to reduce malnutrition.
2
TO REDUCE MALNUTRITION IN
NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
A systematic review
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
Bachelor Health Sciences
Maastricht University
Improving Quality of Care: 2122-BMZ2024
,Index
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 2
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3
2 Methods ................................................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Design ............................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Search strategy ................................................................................................................. 4
2.3 In- and exclusion criteria ................................................................................................. 5
2.4 Study screening and data extraction ................................................................................ 6
2.5 Methodological quality assessment .................................................................................. 6
3 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Search results ................................................................................................................... 7
3.2 Results of the methodological quality appraisal .............................................................. 7
3.3 Results of the systematic review ....................................................................................... 9
3.3.1 Setting and participants ............................................................................................. 9
3.3.2 Interventions .............................................................................................................. 9
3.3.3 Measurement instruments ........................................................................................ 10
3.3.4 Outcomes.................................................................................................................. 11
4 Discussion ............................................................................................................................. 13
4.1 Main findings .................................................................................................................. 13
4.2 Strengths and limitations ................................................................................................ 13
4.3 Implications for future research and practice ................................................................ 14
4.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 14
References ............................................................................................................................... 15
1
, Abstract
Introduction: Malnutrition in nursing homes is an important international research priority.
To reduce malnutrition in nursing homes, studies have used several interventions, for example
staff educational interventions and environmental modifications. Currently, there is no
literature overview of effective interventions. This review will provide an overview of the
effectiveness of interventions which are aimed to reduce malnutrition in nursing home
residents. The corresponding research question is: “To what extent are interventions to reduce
malnutrition in nursing home residents effective?”
Methods: The systematic review was conducted in PubMed. Studies with sample sizes of
nursing home residents and with interventions aimed to reduce malnutrition were eligible for
inclusion. Moreover, articles have to be written in Dutch or English and must be published
from the year 2000 onwards. Methodological quality of the included articles was assessed by
Joanna Briggs Institute Checklists.
Results: The search strategy identified 117 potentially relevant studies; of these ten articles
were included, from which five were chosen for this review. Four studies used a RCT design.
All studies were based on nutritional interventions to reduce malnutrition. The energy intake
increased in three intervention groups. Body weight also increased in three intervention
groups. Four studies indicate that the applied nutritional intervention can help to prevent or
counteract malnutrition.
Discussion: Interventions in which meals are served in family-style are the most effective to
reduce malnutrition in nursing home residents. Interventions with protein and nutrient
enriched food or drinks can also be effective. Serving additional dairy portions has the
potential to reduce malnutrition.
2
