Sammanfattning
Background: Nutritional support with enteral or parenteral nutrition is important to avoid
malnutrition in critically ill patients. Proper nutritional support to critically ill patients can lead to
reduced mortality, fewer infections and improved health-related quality of life. A survey of the
nutrition practices revealed that feeding practices were not in adherence with the guidelines.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine whether an intervention to implement nutrition
guidelines for critical care patients leads to earlier initiation of enteral nutrition instead of parenteral
nutrition, and improved adequacy of calorie and protein requirements with enteral nutrition.
Method: The study is a prospective observational study before and after an intervention.
Result: More critical-care patients received an early initiation of enteral nutrition after the
intervention. Fewer patients received parenteral nutrition which was more often initiated after day four
following the intervention. Critical care patients received more enteral and less parenteral nutrition
after the intervention. As a result of improved nutrition practices, a higher average percentage of
calorie and protein requirements were met.
Conclusion: The intervention led to implementation of guidelines and a change in practice that led to
more enteral and less parenteral nutrition to critical-care patients.