Nutrition Checklist: An Easy Way to Ensure Optimum Nutrition in Burns

Abstract

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The primary goal of this study was to assess the knowledge of health care staff in basic nutrition care management of patients with burn injuries to help develop a checklist to ensure optimal nutrition support, prevent infection, and promote wound healing in patients with burn injuries. The secondary goal of the study was to promote education and awareness among health care workers on nutrition and the implementation of nutrition care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 20 participants, including doctors (n = 3), nurses (n = 10), medical technicians (n = 5), and patient care staff (n = 2). Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using our 2 evaluation forms (demographic details of the participants was form 1 and burns nutrition basic knowledge assessment was form 2). RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 29.9 years. Female-to-male ratio was 1:0.4. A pretest of form 2 was correctly answered by 93% of participants. Among participants, 70% stated that they had received training on nutrition in burn patients, but only 35% felt moderately confident about their knowledge and only 10% felt very confident in supporting patients in nutrition management. High-education level, receiving burns nutrition training, and seniority in the profession and in the institution were the effective factors for those with confidence in providing proper support. The posttest of form 2, after nutrition intervention education, was answered correctly by 99% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Many participants had basic knowledge about burns nutrition, but they were not confident. Health care staff need periodical nutritional education sessions in addition to the basic awareness programs for burn injuries. The introduction of nutrition checklist can help to ensure quality nutrition to patients. The checklist compliance can be improved through education and enforcement.