Importance-Performance Analysis of Clinical Nutrition Management in Convalescent Hospitals in the Gyeongnam Area

Lee, Seon Jeon; Park, Eunju

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the importance-performance of clinical nutrition management in convalescent hospitals. The research was carried out based on questionnaires administered from March to April, 2015 to 73 dietitians at 40 convalescent hospitals in the Gyeongnam area. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores for importance (4.01/5.00) and performance (2.95/5.00) of clinical nutrition management. The importance and performance grid analysis showed that participation in a nutritional management committee, administration of patients using a cooperation program among hospital departments, cooperation with a medical team on patient's nutrition status, nutrition initial assessment, nutrition care process for patients showing malnutrition, nutrition care process for tube feeding patients, management of a therapeutic diet, meal management using dietary slip instructions including a therapeutic diet, and explication of a therapeutic diet for patients scored high regarding importance and performance (doing great area). Medical records on patient's nutrition management, and nutrition counseling for requested patient scored low regarding the importance and high regarding performance (overdone area). Participation in medical rounds, personal nutrition education for patients, group nutrition education for patients, nutrition education for medical teams, development of a menu for therapeutic diet and standardized recipes, and provision of information on diet therapy for patients after discharge scored low regarding importance and performance (low priority area). Accreditation of convalescent hospitals and interest of medical professionals in clinical nutrition management were effective variables for the importance-performance gap of clinical nutrition management. In conclusion, the accreditation process and positive awareness of medical professionals with regard to clinical nutrition management had positive effects on reduction of the importance-performance gap in clinical nutrition management at convalescent hospitals. The strength of clinical nutrition management in the accreditation and development of an education program for increasing medical team or administrator interest in clinical nutrition management could lead to improvement of clinical nutrition management for elderly patients in convalescent hospitals.