Nutritional Status in Patients Over 65 Years of Age and Meal Presentation

Impact on the Nutritional Status of Serving the Main Course on Porcelain Plates as a Replacement for Plastic Trays in Patients Over 65 Years of Age

The prevalence of undernutrition in hospitals is estimated between 30 and 40% and up to 50% in the elderly. The consequences of undernutrition are significant: complications, delayed healing, higher risk of infections, pressure ulcers, lengthening of the length of stay, higher readmission rate, increased mortality, reduced quality of life, etc. In addition, the cost of hospital malnutrition is high for the health system. As a result, undernutrition is one of the axes of action of the french National Health Nutrition Program 2019-2023 (PNNS4). It can appear during hospitalization or be pre-existing and worsen during hospitalization. It is due to an unfavorable balance between expenditure and energy intake. One of the causes is incomplete consumption of meals served in hospital. Studies have shown that the appearance of the meal is a hindrance to patients feeding.

At the Caen Normandie University Hospital, meals have been served to patients in plastic trays for thirteen years. The presentation of the meals is a significant factor in not consuming meals in the hospital. In addition to the problem of the presentation of meals, plastic trays pose ergonomic problems: their height hinders the cutting and the gripping of food, which is difficult for patients with gripping problems; they can also be difficult to open for these same patients. They also pose environmental problems: the waste generated is not currently recycled.

The investigators hypothesize that presenting the main course on porcelain plates would reduce undernutrition and limit food waste.

The investigators therefore propose a study with the aim of:

• Compare the assessment of the perception of dietary intakes of patients receiving dishes presented on porcelain plates (experimental group) with that of patients receiving dishes in plastic trays (current system - control group) on D6 ± 1 day;
• Compare the evolution of indicators of nutritional status or risk in elderly patients receiving meals presented in porcelain plates (experimental group) compared to those receiving meals presented in plastic trays (control group);
• Evaluate food intake and food waste in each of the two groups;
• Compare patient satisfaction with meals in the two groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient 65 years of age or older
• Patient not having objected to his participation in the study
• Patient affiliated to a social security scheme
• French-speaking patient

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient receiving a diet with double portions (a side dish of vegetables and a side of starches)
• Patient receiving a diet not including a main course at dinner
• Patient receiving cold meals
• Patient receiving a controlled residue or fiber diet
• Patient receiving a diet with a modified texture: chopped, milled, mixed, semi-liquid or liquid
• Patient for whom weight cannot be measured
• Patient receiving partial or exclusive artificial nutrition (enteral or parenteral)
• Patient with a foreseeable length of stay of less than 6 days
• Patient with cognitive impairment
• Patient in accommodation in the care unit (risk of rapid transfer to the original department)
• For the second phase: patient who participated in the first phase of the study