Differences in quality standards when prescribing nutritional support: Differences between specialist and non-specialist physicians

Abstract

Adequate nutritional support includes many different aspects, but poor understanding of clinical nutrition by health care professionales often results in an inadequate prescription.

Material and methods: A study was conducted to compare enteral and parenteral nutritional support plans prescribed by specialist and non-specialist physicians.

Results: Non-specialist physicians recorded anthropometric data from only 13.3% of patients, and none of them performed nutritional assessments. Protein amounts provided by non-specialist physicians were lower than estimated based on ESPEN (10.29g of nitrogen vs 14.62; P<.001). Differences were not statistically significant in the specialist group (14.88g of nitrogen; P=.072). Calorie and glutamine provision and laboratory controls prescribed by specialists were significantly closer to those recommended by clinical guidelines.

Conclusion: Nutritional support prescribed by specialists in endocrinology and nutrition at San Pedro de Alcántara Hospital was closer to clinical practice guideline standards and of higher quality as compared to that prescribed by non-specialists.

Keywords: Nutritional support; Prescripción; Prescription; Soporte nutricional.