Nutritional care of older people : Investigating nurses’ attitudes in medical and surgical units

Background: Malnutrition in older people in hospitals leads to negative patient outcomes. Nurses often underestimate the problem, showing negative attitudes. Aims: To compare nurses' attitudes towards nutritional care of older people in surgical and medical wards. Design: Multicentre cross-sectional survey, conducted in January 2015. Methods: All nurses in surgical and medical wards in 10 hospitals in northern Italy were surveyed using the Staff Attitudes to Nutritional Nursing Care Geriatric Scale (SANN-G scale). Results: 799 out of 1,293 questionnaires were returned (61.8%). 23.2% (185) had a negative attitude, 56.6%(452) had a neutral attitude, and 20.2%(162), positive. Multivariate analysis showed no significant differences between medical and surgical wards (OR = 1.298; CI95% =.883-1.886, p =.18). Conclusions: It is necessary to raise nurses' awareness of poor nutritional care in both settings. More research is needed within the barriers to nutritional care. Impact statement: Strategies such as education and more clearly defined nutritional responsibilities are needed to improve nurses' attitudes.