Professionals’ perception on nutritional care of adult patients in comprehensive specialized hospitals of East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Adult patients suffering from malnutrition in hospitals are often overlooked, especially in low-income countries. Health care professionals play a vital role in identifying and managing the nutritional needs of patients. However, their perception regarding the nutritional care of adult patients have not been thoroughly examined. Objective: Explore the perceptions of health care professionals on nutritional care and perceived barriers in providing nutritional care for adult patients. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted, consisting of twenty-two in-depth interviews with purposefully selected health care professionals at comprehensive specialized hospitals from March to May 2024. The interviews were audio-recorded, and field notes were taken. The data were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Two main themes and eight sub-themes were generated. The first theme was Health care professionals’ (HCPs) gaps which include: limited scope in providing nutritional care, not recognizing nutritional care as a routine care, healthcare professionals (HCPs) role on nutrition care and limited knowledge regarding nutritional care. The second theme was challenges and barriers to providing nutritional care which includes: prioritization, lack of emphasis in the health care system, missing collaboration between professionals, and lack of resources allocated to nutritional service. Conclusion: Respondents assume that malnutrition may not occur in adult patients; they consider it not to be a problem for adult patients. Providing adequate in-service training to healthcare providers, allocating resources, and considering malnutrition in adult patients as one of the main issues to be integrated in nutritional care as a part of daily treatment are vital.