The impact of the introduction of a clinical nutrition unit in a hospital: a retrospective observational study

Abstract

Objectives: the study describes the evolution over the years of the use of artificial nutrition, in particular after the introduction of a dedicated Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Service. Methods: a single-center, retrospective observational study performed with data collected from 2014 to 2019 at the Regional Hospital of Locarno, Switzerland. Results: from 2014 to 2019, there has been an increase in the number of patients identified as being at risk of malnutrition. We observed a reduction in the use of parenteral nutrition in all services, especially after the introduction of the dedicated Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Service. There would seem to be a switch from enteral to oral nutrition with increased use of oral nutritional supplements. Conclusions: the introduction of a dedicated Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Service in the care of patients with nutritional issues would seem to reduce the use of artificial invasive nutrition, despite an increase in the number of patients identified as being at risk of malnutrition.