Impact of malnutrition management elearning module on GPs’ knowledge: a pilot study.
Background: Malnutrition is underdiagnosed in primary care. GPs are key healthcare contacts for older adults at risk of protein-energy malnutrition; however, lack of knowledge and confidence in its diagnosis and treatment is often reported. Aim: To evaluate the impact of a bespoke online education m...
| Published in: | BJGP Open Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
Royal College of General Practitioners
Mar2023
|
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=164118899&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 164118899 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 23983795 LW60 jtl: BJGP Open issn: 23983795 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Mar2023 vid: 7 iid: 1 pid: 11854 pub: Royal College of General Practitioners artinfo: ui: 164118899 164118899 164118899 10.3399/BJGPO.2022.0111 164118899 ppf: 1 ppct: 9 formats: tig: atl: Impact of malnutrition management elearning module on GPs’ knowledge: a pilot study. aug: au: Geraghty, Aisling A. Castro, Patricia Dominguez Reynolds, Ciara M. E. Browne, Sarah Bourke, Frank Bradley, Catriona Finnigan, Karen Clarke, Sarah Clyne, Barbara Bury, Gerard Perrotta, Carla Kennelly, Sharon Corish, Clare A. affil: School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. sug: subj: Malnutrition Diet Therapy Online Education Physicians, Family Professional Knowledge Evaluation Human Primary Health Care Protein-Energy Malnutrition Risk Factors Prospective Studies Pretest-Posttest Design Pilot Studies Interns and Residents Ireland Malnutrition Epidemiology Nomenclature Malnutrition Diagnosis Medical Practice Dietary Supplements Questionnaires Qualitative Studies Dietitians Paired T-Tests Interviews Focus Groups Case Studies Physician Attitudes Funding Source ab: Background: Malnutrition is underdiagnosed in primary care. GPs are key healthcare contacts for older adults at risk of protein-energy malnutrition; however, lack of knowledge and confidence in its diagnosis and treatment is often reported. Aim: To evaluate the impact of a bespoke online education module on GP malnutrition knowledge and management. Design & setting: A prospective pre—post pilot study with 23 GPs and eight GP trainees in the Republic of Ireland. Method: The module included units on the following: ‘malnutrition definition, prevalence, and latest evidence’; ‘identifying malnutrition in clinical practice’; ‘food-first advice’; ‘reviewing malnutrition’; and ‘oral nutritional supplements’. Participant knowledge was measured using a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) before and after the module (n = 31), and 6 weeks following completion (n = 11). Case studies assessing identification and management of malnutrition were evaluated by a clinical specialist dietitian with expertise in managing malnutrition. Changes in assessment performance were calculated using paired t-tests. Acceptability was evaluated using a questionnaire. Results: Post-training, 97% of GPs increased MCQ scores from baseline (+25%, P<0.001), with the greatest improvement in ‘identifying malnutrition in clinical practice’ (mean increase 47%, P<0.001). Eleven GPs completed the 6-week MCQ with scores remaining significantly higher than baseline (mean increase 15%, P = 0.005); ‘identifying malnutrition in clinical practice’ remained the most highly scored (mean increase 40%, P<0.001). Seventeen GPs completed the case studies; 76% at baseline and 88% post-module correctly calculated malnutrition risk scores. Appropriate malnutrition management improved for 47% of GPs after module completion. Conclusion: This e-learning module improved malnutrition knowledge, with good short-term retention in a small cohort. Development of online evidence-based nutrition education may improve GP nutrition care. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
|---|