Attitudes of Medical Staff and Factors Related to Nutritional Support for Patient Care in a University Hospital

Jeong, Hwee Soo; Teong, Chen Hsuen; Choi, You Jung; Kim, Woo Jeng; Lee, Ah Ran

Abstract

PURPOSE
Knowledge of nutritional support and attitudes of medical staff both affect patient care. We identified attitudes regarding nutritional support among medical staff as well as changes in attitudes when a nutritional support team is present.
METHODS
Data were collected from 172 medical staff members who served at a university hospital located in Gyeongju by self-administered questionnaire from June 12~August 30, 2013. The questionnaire inquired about importance of nutritional support, self-confidence about nutritional support, consideration of nutritional support for patient care, consideration of nutritional support when a nutritional support team is present, and nutritional knowledge training during the past year.
RESULTS
A total of 169 subjects (98.3%) thought that nutritional support is important for patient care. Only 19 subjects (11.0%) were highly self-confident about nutritional support. In total, 147 subjects (85.5%) considered nutritional support for some or all patients, whereas 169 (98.3%) considered nutritional support for patient care when a nutritional support team is present. Thirty-eight subjects (22.1%) received nutritional knowledge training during the past year. High self-confidence for nutritional support was related to nutritional knowledge training and service part. Positive changes regarding nutritional support when a nutritional support team is present were associated with nutritional knowledge training and high self-confidence for nutritional support.
CONCLUSION
No differences in nutritional support attitudes for patient care were observed among the medical staff. Nutritional knowledge training and service part affected self-confidence of nutritional support and induced positive changes in attitudes for nutritional support.