Bedside Menu Ordering System increases energy and protein intake while decreasing plate waste and food costs in hospital patients

Implementation of sustainable food service systems in hospitals to achieve current sustainability goals: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Food waste is a pivotal contributor to environmental degradation in the modern world. Vast amounts of food are wasted and many individual efforts and collective initiatives being underway to deal with this challenge. Hospitals are institutions that produce and provide food, but at the same time contribute greatly to food waste. The objective of this scoping review is to present available data regarding quantity of food waste generated in public hospitals and summarizes studies that assess and quantify the greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint) associated to food service management in hospitals.

METHODS

A systematic literature research was conducted by two qualified researchers in PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science and Science Direct. The publication date was set to the last ten years, i.e., 2013-2023. All the abstracts retrieved were screened, and the eligible articles were selected after a two-step process. Abstracts from the retrieved full papers' references were also screened for eligibility. The selected papers were included in the final scoping review.

RESULTS

Overall, 2870 studies were identified and 69 were included in the review. Most of the studies (n = 33) assessed the causes and quantified the amount of food waste generated in hospitals. A small number of studies (5) estimated carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) produced by food waste. Although several studies suggested strategies and measures to reduce the environmental impact of foodservice operations, none of them implemented a comprehensive foodservice management system.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review suggests that hospital diets contribute to food waste and may have a negative environmental impact. There are several internal and external factors and practices that influence positively or negatively the sustainability of hospital food service systems. Systematic efforts are needed to identify and enhance parameters that could improve the environmental footprint of hospitals in terms of more effective management of food waste.

Individualised nutritional treatment increases the positive effects of a novel á la carte hospital food service concept: Results of a quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

One-third of hospitalised patients are at nutritional risk, and limited choice regarding meals and meal times, and inadequate nutritional support may contribute to inadequate nutritional intake during hospitalisation. The aim was to test the effect of a novel á la carte hospital food service concept as a stand-alone intervention and combined with individualised nutritional treatment.

METHODS

Medical inpatients at nutritional risk were recruited for this three-arm quasi-experimental study. The control group received meals from the traditional bulk trolley food service system. Intervention group 1 (IG1) received meals from a novel á la carte food service concept with an electronic ordering system, whereas intervention group 2 (IG2) in addition to this received individualised nutritional treatment by a clinical dietitian. Nutritional intake and length of stay was measured, and patient satisfaction was assessed with purpose-designed questionnaires.

RESULTS

206 patients were included: 67 in the control group, 68 in IG1, and 71 in IG2. The proportion of participants reaching ≥75 % of both their energy and protein requirement was higher in IG1 compared to the control group (34 % vs. 12 %, p = 0.002) and higher in IG2 compared to IG1 (53 % vs. 34 %, p = 0.035). Length of stay was shorter in IG2 compared to the control group (6.0 vs. 8.7 days, p = 0.005). It was important to participants to be able to choose when and what to eat, and this preference was met to a larger extent in the intervention groups.

CONCLUSION

The novel á la carte concept increases energy and protein intake in hospitalised patients, and the positive effects are increased, when the concept is used in combination with individualised nutritional treatment.

Is meal order timing and flexibility key to improving patient satisfaction with hospital foodservice?

AIM

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate and compare patient foodservice (FS) satisfaction using a validated tool and consistent methodology in an acute health service for four different FS models as the organisation transitioned through traditional model (TM), choice at point of service (CaPOS), bedside menu ordering systems (BMOS) and room service (RS) from 2013 to 2016.

METHODS

Patient satisfaction data were collected using the Acute Care Hospital Foodservice Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. For the purposes of this study, patients' rating of their overall experience with FS (very good, good, okay, poor or very poor) was compared for each site and model.

RESULTS

Satisfaction was significantly higher in the CaPOS and RS models compared with TM. BMOS, although somewhat higher, was not shown to be significantly higher than TM. The RS model was significantly higher than BMOS, but there was no significant difference observed between RS and CaPOS.

CONCLUSION

FS models that support patient flexibility and meal ordering closer to the meal delivery time (as seen with RS and CaPOS) show higher patient satisfaction among hospital patients. It is recommended that sites consistently opt to include patient satisfaction as part of routine auditing. This would enable clear conclusions to be drawn regarding best practice FS models, based on specific and individual hospital requirements.

How to improve food waste management in hospitals through focussing on the four most common measures for reducing plate waste

Hospitals have a responsibility to link human health and the environment, but food waste in hospitals has traditionally been much higher than in other areas of food supply. The cause of this situation has many negative impacts on health, economy, society, and environment. As a result, food waste has become a topic of discussion in hospital food departments. Part of this problem is plate waste, the served food that remains uneaten by patients. Given the magnitude of the food problem, this systematic review is aimed to identify the most common measures used to reduce plate waste in hospitals. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were comprehensively searched to identify food waste studies worldwide using related search terms. Many approaches have been recommended to increase patient food intake and minimise plate waste in hospitals. Up to date, the four most common include flexible portion sizes, increased food choices through selective menus, additional nutritional support and a better ordering and delivery system. Among them, the most used and effective are flexible portion sizes which may increase the ability of patients choosing their menus and upgrade ordering and delivery system by electronic format. In most studies, plate waste covers the most significant percentage of food waste produced in hospitals, while more than one approach is recommended to minimise it. In this aspect, further well-design, multicenter, clinical studies are strongly required to highlight and establish novel and effective approaches for improving food waste management in hospitals by reducing plate waste.

Strategies to Reduce the Rate of Plate Waste in Hospitalized Patients: A Scoping Review

There is evidence that hospital waste is indisputably high, and various strategies have been used to reduce the hospital's rate of plate waste. This study aimed to map the currently implemented strategies in lowering the rate of plate waste in hospitals and categorize the different types of strategies used as interventions, as well as determine their impact based on specific parameters. The scoping review method included a search of three databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-SCR). The duplicate articles (n = 80) were removed. A total of 441 articles remained for the title and abstract screening. After 400 were excluded, 41 articles were reviewed for eligibility. Thirty-two full articles were eliminated due to a lack of focus on plate waste evaluation. Finally, nine accepted studies were grouped into five categories: menu modification, room service implementation, menu presentation, meal-serving system, and dietary monitoring tool. In conclusion, results showed that the majority of the studies implemented either of the five strategies to reduce plate waste; however, the cook-freeze system and staff training for both kitchen and ward staff were not yet part of any intervention strategy. The potential of this method should be explored in future interventions.

Dietary intake in hospitals: A systematic literature review of the validity of the visual estimation method to assess food consumption and energy and protein intake

BACKGROUND

Accurate dietary assessment is an essential component for nutrition care planning and monitoring. The visual estimation method (VEM) of dietary assessment is routinely used in hospitals around the world. Therefore, clarity regarding its validity is imperative.

AIM

To conduct a systematic literature review to evaluate the validity of the VEM to assess food consumption and energy and protein intake in the hospital setting.

METHODS

This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and checklist. Full-text manuscripts, published in English between January 2000 and September 2021, were searched using five electronic databases. A further manual search of reference lists was conducted.

RESULTS

14 studies evaluating the validity of 12 different VEMs were included. 12 studies used various point-scales (0-100%), three with pre-determined nutrient estimates assigned to each intake level, and nine without. Two studies used modern technology. Results indicate that the VEM can achieve validity at the group level, but support at the individual level was limited. No one method of visual estimation appeared to be more valid than another; however, training of raters appears to be important.

CONCLUSION

The VEM shows potential as a valid tool for dietary monitoring in hospitals. Further high-quality research is required to establish the effects of meal and rater characteristics on validity at the group and individual levels. Furthermore, to reflect current modes of implementation more fully, research is needed to evaluate the validity of the VEM when operated via food-service software suites.

Prevalence of hospital-acquired malnutrition and modifiable determinants of nutritional deterioration during inpatient admissions: A systematic review of the evidence

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition affects between 20% and 50% of hospital inpatients on admission, with further declines expected during hospitalisation. This review summarises the existing literature on hospital-acquired malnutrition that examines the magnitude of nutritional deterioration amongst adult inpatients and identifies preventable barriers to optimising nutrition support during episodes of care.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to answer the question: Among adult hospital inpatients, the presence of which modifiable factors contribute to hospital-acquired malnutrition? A database search was conducted between the 24 April and 30 June 2020 using CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus and PubMed databases according to a protocol registered with PROSPERO (CD42020182728). In addition, issues of the 10 top clinical nutrition journals published during the period of from 1 April 2015 to 30 March 2020 were hand-searched.

RESULTS

Fifteen articles were eligible for inclusion from a total of 5944 retrieved abstracts. A narrative synthesis of evidence was completed because of the high level of heterogeneity in methodologies. Nutritional deterioration is common among previously well-nourished and nutritionally compromised patients, with studies reporting that 10%-65% of patients experienced nutritional decline. Frequently reported barriers were mealtime interruptions, meal dissatisfaction, procedure-related fasting, effects of illness or treatment, chewing difficulties, poor appetite and malnutrition as a low clinical priority.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this review support the need for routine nutritional risk screening throughout each hospital admission with hospital-acquired malnutrition affecting up to 65% of inpatients. Clear establishment of the roles and responsibilities of each member within multidisciplinary healthcare teams in the provision of nutrition care and cost-benefit analyses are recommended to demonstrate the effectiveness of changes to models of care.

Exploring patient satisfaction with hospital foodservice: A Swedish study using the Acute Care Hospital Foodservice Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore patient satisfaction with hospital foodservice in the Swedish setting, using a validated instrument, adding this context to the existing body of research.

METHODS

The study was carried out at three hospitals employing cyclic menus and conventional cook-serve foodservice systems with centralised tray assemblies and hot-trolley distributions to the wards for service. Patient satisfaction was explored using a translated version of the validated Acute Care Hospital Foodservice Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Groups were compared with Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal Wallis test with a set significance level of P < .05.

RESULTS

Questionnaires from 439 patients were included in the analysis. The majority (80%) reported an overall satisfaction of "good" or "very good." Questions related to Staff and Service received mostly the highest possible ratings, while questions related to Food Quality and Meal Size had slightly lower ratings and higher variation. Comparisons between groups showed that differences were small even when statistically significant. Low appetite and a long hospital stay had an adverse effect on overall satisfaction and food quality-related questions. Men and younger patients reported more often being hungry after and between meals.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital foodservice faces the challenge of catering to multiple patient needs. Monitoring patient satisfaction is crucial to ensure that foodservice operations remain evidence based. The Acute Care Hospital Foodservice Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire provided a general overview that indicated foodservice areas with potential for improvement, although patient satisfaction overall was high. However, patient satisfaction is a complex measure and reflexivity is required when interpreting empirical results.

Nutritional Orthopedics and Space Nutrition as Two Sides of the Same Coin: A Scoping Review

Since the Moon landing, nutritional research has been charged with the task of guaranteeing human health in space. In addition, nutrition applied to Orthopedics has developed in recent years, driven by the need to improve the efficiency of the treatment path by enhancing the recovery after surgery. As a result, nutritional sciences have specialized into two distinct fields of research: Nutritional Orthopedics and Space Nutrition. The former primarily deals with the nutritional requirements of old patients in hospitals, whereas the latter focuses on the varied food challenges of space travelers heading to deep space. Although they may seem disconnected, they both investigate similar nutritional issues. This scoping review shows what these two disciplines have in common, highlighting the mutual features between (1) pre-operative vs. pre-launch nutritional programs, (2) hospital-based vs. space station nutritional issues, and (3) post-discharge vs. deep space nutritional resilience. PubMed and Google Scholar were used to collect documents published from 1950 to 2020, from which 44 references were selected on Nutritional Orthopedics and 44 on Space Nutrition. Both the orthopedic patient and the astronaut were found to suffer from food insecurity, malnutrition, musculoskeletal involution, flavor/pleasure issues, fluid shifts, metabolic stresses, and isolation/confinement. Both fields of research aid the planning of demand-driven food systems and advanced nutritional approaches, like tailored diets with nutrients of interest (e.g., vitamin D and calcium). The nutritional features of orthopedic patients on Earth and of astronauts in space are undeniably related. Consequently, it is important to initiate close collaborations between orthopedic nutritionists and space experts, with the musculoskeletal-related dedications playing as common fuel.

Trends and Novel Research in Hospital Nutrition Care: A Narrative Review of Leading Clinical Nutrition Journals

Hospital malnutrition is a longstanding problem that continues to be underrecognized and undertreated. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize novel, solution-focused, recent research or commentary to update providers on the prevention of iatrogenic malnutrition as well as the detection and treatment of hospital malnutrition. A narrative review was completed using the top 11 clinically relevant nutrition journals. Of the 13,850 articles and editorials published in these journals between 2013 and 2019, 511 were related to hospital malnutrition. A duplicate review was used to select (n = 108) and extract key findings from articles and editorials. Key criteria for selection were population of interest (adult hospital patients, no specific diagnostic group), solution-focused, and novel perspectives. Articles were categorized (6 classified in >1 category) as Screening and Assessment (n = 17), Standard (n = 25), Advanced (n = 12) and Specialized Nutrition Care (n = 8), Transitions (n = 15), Multicomponent (n = 21), Education and Empowerment (n = 9), Economic Impact (n = 3), and Guidelines (n = 4) for summarizing. Research advances in screening implementation, standard nutrition care, transitions, and multicomponent interventions provide new strategies to consider for malnutrition prevention (iatrogenic), detection, and care. However, several areas requiring further research were identified. Specifically, larger and more rigorous studies that examine health outcomes and economic analyses are urgently needed.

Environmental Sustainability of Hospital Foodservices across the Food Supply Chain: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Hospitals have a responsibility to support human health, and given the link between human and environmental health, hospitals should consider their environmental impacts. Hospital foodservices can negatively affect the environment at every stage of the food supply chain (production/procurement, distribution, preparation, consumption, and waste management/disposal).

OBJECTIVE

To systematically identify and synthesize the following across the hospital patient food/nutrition supply chain: environmental and associated economic impacts of foodservice; outcomes of strategies that aim to improve the environmental sustainability of foodservice; and perspectives of patients, staff, and stakeholders on environmental impacts of foodservice and strategies that aim to improve the environmental sustainability of foodservice.

METHODS

Eight electronic databases (ie, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus, Embase via Ovid, Global Health, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, Ovid Medline, ProQuest Environmental Science Collection, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched from database inception to November 2018 for original research conducted across any stage of the hospital food supply chain (from production/procurement to waste management/disposal) that provides food/nutrition to patients, with no restrictions on language or study design. Titles/abstracts then full texts were screened independently by two authors. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality appraisal for included studies. Data were synthesized narratively.

RESULTS

From 29,655 records identified, 80 studies met eligibility criteria. Results were categorized into production/procurement (n=12), distribution (n=0), preparation (n=6), consumption (n=49), waste management/disposal (n=8), and multiple food supply chain aspects (n=5). The environmental impact most widely explored was food waste, with many studies reporting on food waste quantities, and associated economic losses. Strategies focused on reducing food waste by increasing patients' intake through various foodservice models. Perspectives identified a shared vision for sustainable foodservices, although there are many practical barriers to achieving this.

CONCLUSION

The literature provides examples across the hospital food supply chain that demonstrate how environmental sustainability can be prioritized and evaluated and the opportunities for credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners to contribute. Future studies are warranted, particularly those measuring environmental impacts and testing the effects of sustainable strategies in the distribution, preparation, and waste management stages.

Impact of electronic bedside meal ordering systems on dietary intake, patient satisfaction, plate waste and costs: A systematic literature review

Aim

Hospital foodservices provide an important opportunity to deliver valuable dietary support to patients, address hospital‐acquired malnutrition risk and enhance patient satisfaction. Modifying the meal ordering process through the adoption of technology may actively engage patients in the process and provide an opportunity to influence patient and organisational outcomes. This systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the impact of electronic bedside meal ordering systems in hospitals on patient dietary intake, patient satisfaction, plate waste and costs.

Methods

A systematic search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and Web of Science for randomised controlled trials and observational studies comparing the effect of electronic bedside meal ordering systems with traditional menus on dietary intake, patient satisfaction, plate waste and cost. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Quality Criteria Checklist for Primary Research tool.

Results

Five studies involving 720 patients were included. Given the heterogeneity of the included studies, the results were narratively synthesised. Electronic bedside meal ordering systems positively impacted patient dietary intake, patient satisfaction, plate waste and costs compared with traditional menus.

Conclusions

Despite the increase in healthcare foodservices adopting digital health solutions, there is limited research specifically measuring the impact of electronic bedside meal ordering systems on patient and organisational outcomes. This study highlights potential benefits of electronic bedside meal ordering systems for hospitals using traditional paper menu systems, while also identifying the need for continued research to generate evidence to understand the impact of this change and inform future successful innovations.

Patient Evaluation of Food Waste in Three Hospitals in Southern Italy

In recent years, food waste has received great attention and is now considered the cause of many negative effects, including health, economic, social and environmental issues. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 762 inpatients at three hospitals of Campania region in Italy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of food waste occurring in these hospitals using a structured questionnaire and asking inpatients about the average percentage of food they had disposed of in the previous three days. The overall food wasted amounted to 41.6%. The main plates, first (pasta or rice), second plate (meat or fish), resulted in similar amounts of waste (38.5% and 39.7%, respectively). The side plate (vegetable or potatoes), however, generated the greatest amount of waste (55.0%); 40.7% of patients totally discarded this part of their meals. The type of food wastage among the three hospitals reflected similar patient behaviours, with the amount of food wasted never falling below 30%. Females tended to waste more food than males (59.1% vs. 38.2%; p = 0.000). Other variables were correlated with less food waste, such as having a good opinion of the food's quality (RR = 1.91; 95% C.I. = 1.68-2.17) and satisfaction with the foodservice in general (RR = 1.86; 95% C.I. = 1.64-2.10). Poor quality, different eating habits and the feeling of satiety were the main reasons patients gave for food waste. Our study suggests that the most promising way to reduce food waste in hospitals is to improve the quality of meals and to establish an individual, simplified and flexible meal reservation process based on specific needs and preferences.