Essential Connections: Hospital to Community Impacting Malnutrition Outcomes in Older Adults
Primary Purpose
Malnutrition; Protein
Status
Not yet recruiting
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Nutrition care by RDN, medical nutrition therapy -stepped wedge cluster-randomized trial design. Everyone gets the intervention so no arms.
Sponsored by
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Malnutrition; Protein
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: English or Spanish speaking, Screened as at risk for malnutrition (Malnutrition Screening Tool), Meet the definition for food insecure per the Food Security Risk tool, Referred to an RDN, Diagnosed with malnutrition using AAIM, Plan for discharge to home, and Eligible to receive Title III-C1 or Title III-C2 nutrition services. Exclusion Criteria: Patients are receiving hospice care or care for end stage cancer, Unable to consume meals (e.g., using enteral or parenteral to meet nutrition needs), Do not live within the meal provision organizations catchment.
Sites / Locations
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Quality of Life Scale (CASP-19)
This tool has been validated in older populations and examined in populations with lower socioeconomic status and in different racial and ethnic populations. It will be conducted to evaluate the change in quality of life over time as a result of the intervention.
Secondary Outcome Measures
Program Sustainability Assessment Tool
The Program Sustainability Assessment Tool (PSAT) is based on a sustainability framework with eight domains (environmental support, financial stability, communications, strategic planning, partnerships, program adaptation, program evaluation, organizational capacity). Each of these domains provides insight into the program's sustainability and opportunities for enhancement. The assessment tool has 40 questions within the eight domains and will be completed by the research RDN. It takes approximately 10-15 mins to complete and thus has minimal staff burden.
RDN Survey on Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation
A survey which has been developed and used within Academy research projects, will be modified to assess this new model.
Change in percent of patients receiving nutrition care and meals
Pre and post numbers of patients who have malnutrition and are referred from the acute care setting to the community setting receiving care by an RDN and meals from meal provision title III-C1 and C2 funded organizations will be captured and calculated for a percent change from the control period to post implementation of the new model
Food Security Risk
The food security risk assessment tool is valid has 6 questions and will be used to determine security risk.
Malnutrition risk
The malnutrition screening tool is a valid tool for determining risk of malnutrition in adults.
Malnutrition Diagnosis (AAIM tool)
Validated diagnostic tool for moderate and severe malnutrition in adults.
Full Information
NCT ID
NCT05893446
First Posted
May 19, 2023
Last Updated
June 5, 2023
Sponsor
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Collaborators
University of New Mexico, Hartford Hospital, Meals on Wheels Central Texas
1. Study Identification
Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT05893446
Brief Title
Essential Connections: Hospital to Community Impacting Malnutrition Outcomes in Older Adults
Official Title
Essential Connections: How Improved Referrals From Hospital to Community Meal Provision Can Impact Malnutrition Outcomes in Older Adults
Study Type
Interventional
2. Study Status
Record Verification Date
June 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Not yet recruiting
Study Start Date
January 1, 2024 (Anticipated)
Primary Completion Date
December 31, 2027 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
May 31, 2028 (Anticipated)
3. Sponsor/Collaborators
Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Collaborators
University of New Mexico, Hartford Hospital, Meals on Wheels Central Texas
4. Oversight
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No
5. Study Description
Brief Summary
Meal provision organizations, whether they provide meals within the home or in congregate centers, provide an excellent opportunity to address malnutrition by providing nutrition care and meals to those who are most vulnerable. Data has shown that nutrition care within the home by a dietitian can increase energy, protein intake, and body weight. The goal of this study is to test a new model for continuity of nutrition care for malnutrition treatment across settings and determine if it improves food security and quality of life in patients 60 years and older. The study will specifically recruit sites and a sample that represents individuals who have malnutrition, have experienced or are at risk for food insecurity, and those from rural areas as well as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American populations with a goal sample size of 1,120 patients over the five-year duration. The objectives of this study are to: 1) test the feasibility of a patient identification, cross-referral, data reporting, and communication process from an acute care hospital to a community meal provision organization; 2) identify barriers to and facilitators for implementation as well as costs of the new model of continuity of nutrition care across settings; and 3) improve food security, determinants of malnutrition, and quality of life in persons older than 60 years of age discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of malnutrition. Level 1 evidence will be generated from the study. The outcomes to be measured are program sustainability, percent change in referrals, food insecurity, malnutrition risk and diagnosis, and quality of life. The results of this study can provide a new model for nutrition care that may improve food security, quality of life, and health outcomes.
Detailed Description
We hypothesize that enhanced continuity of nutrition care between acute care hospital settings and community meal provision organizations providing Title III-C Special Need Plan services (C1 and C2) will be sustainable and improve outcomes for patients older than 60 years of age who are diagnosed with malnutrition. Specifically, the enhanced continuity of care will: a) increase referrals and communication between clinical and community nutrition care providers at each study site location; b) increase the percent of patients receiving nutrition care within the community setting; and c) improve food security, quality of life, and reduce determinants of malnutrition.
To test this hypothesis, we propose to conduct a study which will examine a new model of continuity of nutrition care for sustainability and impact. The model has been developed to facilitate cross-referrals and transmission of structured nutrition care documentation from an acute care setting to a meal provision organization and then for the meal provision organization to use the referral data to increase delivery of nutrition care (medical nutrition therapy- MNT) and meals (medically tailored meals - MTM). The primary subjects for this study are adults older than 60 years of age with malnutrition, with particular emphasis on recruiting sites who serve individuals who are Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native Americans and individuals living in rural areas of the country.
The components of the proposed new model of cross-referral, data transfer, and nutrition care across settings has the potential to be scalable throughout the US. However, barriers and facilitators to data transfer and MNT/MTM provision, cost of implementation, and potential impact on outcomes must be evaluated for the model to be replicable. The results of this study will generate new data on the model of care feasibility, rates of malnutrition within older adults at the study sites, impact of MNT with MTM provision on food security, determinants of malnutrition, and quality of life to inform future scalability of the model.
Goals and Objectives The goal of this new model is to improve food security and quality of life in patients 60 years and older from key vulnerable populations with greatest social and economic need by providing continuity of nutrition care for malnutrition treatment across settings. To test the feasibility of this new model, we will use a stepped wedge cluster-randomized trial design at eight sites throughout the US, specifically recruiting sites and individuals who are Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, and individuals living in rural areas of the country. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy), as the research organization, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation (Academy Foundation) will partner with collaborating organizations in both acute care hospitals and meal provision organizations (Title III-C1 and C2) within the community to test the newly developed model.
Objective 1) To test the feasibility of a patient identification, cross-referral, data reporting, and communication (including data transfer) process from an acute care hospital to a community meal provision organization.
Objective 1a) To identify barriers to and facilitators for implementation as well as the cost of the new model of continuity of nutrition care across settings.
Objective 2) To increase the rate of patients older than 60 years of age with malnutrition receiving care (MNT, MTM) in the community setting.
Objective 3) To improve food security, determinants of malnutrition, and quality of life in persons older than 60 years of age discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of malnutrition.
There are two distinct portions of the study intervention: the clinical component, which includes patient identification, effective cross-referrals, and enhanced data reporting and transfer to the community partner, and the community component, including enhanced nutrition care and reporting including both MNT and MTM. The meals and nutrition care within the community can occur at home or within a congregate meal setting (Title III C1 and C2).
The study will compare the usual care process with no referral to the new model which includes a referral and nutrition care in the community using a stepped wedge cluster-randomized trial design.12 All participating sites will start in the control condition (usual process/care) and then be randomized to unidirectionally crossover to the intervention condition within four sequence blocks on a staggered schedule (see work plan year 2 for detailed table). Patients diagnosed with malnutrition in the hospital setting will be cross-sectionally identified and enrolled within each study period. All enrolled patients, regardless of whether they are in the control or receive the intervention will have outcome measures collected 3 months post-discharge (+/- two weeks). All sites will begin in the control period and then two sites at a time will implement the intervention in a staggered approach. Thus, in period 1 all are following usual care, then in period 2, two sites will implement the new model, in period 3, two additional sites will implement it, and this will continue until all sites have implemented the new model (intervention) at the end of period 5. Each period will last 7 months for a total study duration of 35 months. Patient recruitment will occur within all 5 periods for a total of 1120 patients and at a rate of approximately six to seven patients per month per site. This approach ensures all sites test the intervention and evaluate sustainability and impact of the new model.
Clinical setting: Standards for usual care within the hospital includes screening for malnutrition risk by nursing or other non-RDN staff, 14 within 24 hours of admission. A positive screening elicits a consultation with an RDN who conducts a comprehensive assessment to determine whether a nutrition problem, such as malnutrition, exists. The RDN will then provide nutrition care to patients for the duration of their hospital stay. The nutrition care is documented in the hospital's electronic health record (EHR) and includes anthropometric and laboratory data in addition to the nutrition problem and care plan.For the new model of care, the data collection tool (ANDHII) will be modified to use the HL7® FHIR standard to import (pull) data from acute care hospital EHRs. The data will then be available via ANDHII for the community RDN to use.
Community setting: Within our new model of continuity of nutrition care, an RDN within the meal provision organization (Title III-C1 and 2) will log into ANDHII and accept the referral and subsequent data sent by the clinical RDN. The community RDN will review the data and the discharge nutrition care plan before visiting with the patient within their home or at the congregate meal center. At the initial community visit (home visit or congregate meal site), the community RDN will reassess the person for malnutrition and adjust the nutrition care plan as needed for the home/community environment and the patient's social, functional, and economic circumstances. The aim within the community setting will be for the community RDN to have three subsequent visits, approximately a month apart, for three months post-discharge from the hospital. A dedicated Research RDN at each site will conduct the malnutrition, food security, and QOL tools at baseline and again at the end of month three post-discharge for all the enrolled patients, regardless of whether they are in the control or intervention period.
6. Conditions and Keywords
Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Malnutrition; Protein
7. Study Design
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Sequential Assignment
Model Description
Patient enrollment and data collection will begin in year two. In year one, sites will have been randomized to the intervention condition within four sequence blocks on a staggered schedule. The stepped wedge cluster-randomized trial design will go through 5 periods with each period lasting for 7 months for a total of 35 months (year 2 through year 4). The goal of year two is for all sites to initiate the schedule to which they are randomly assigned. All participating sites will start in the control condition (usual process/care) in period 1. By the end of year two, we aim for sites to be within period 2. At this time, two sites will be implementing the intervention. Patients will be recruited and enrolled from acute care hospital sites in a rolling fashion across the entire study period (year 2 to year 4).
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
1120 (Anticipated)
8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions
Intervention Type
Dietary Supplement
Intervention Name(s)
Nutrition care by RDN, medical nutrition therapy -stepped wedge cluster-randomized trial design. Everyone gets the intervention so no arms.
Other Intervention Name(s)
Meals
Intervention Description
RDNs in the community will provide MNT and meals for three months post discharge from the hospital
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Quality of Life Scale (CASP-19)
Description
This tool has been validated in older populations and examined in populations with lower socioeconomic status and in different racial and ethnic populations. It will be conducted to evaluate the change in quality of life over time as a result of the intervention.
Time Frame
3 months
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Program Sustainability Assessment Tool
Description
The Program Sustainability Assessment Tool (PSAT) is based on a sustainability framework with eight domains (environmental support, financial stability, communications, strategic planning, partnerships, program adaptation, program evaluation, organizational capacity). Each of these domains provides insight into the program's sustainability and opportunities for enhancement. The assessment tool has 40 questions within the eight domains and will be completed by the research RDN. It takes approximately 10-15 mins to complete and thus has minimal staff burden.
Time Frame
Facility level outcome, thus outcome will be done at study completion for the site years 2 through 4
Title
RDN Survey on Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation
Description
A survey which has been developed and used within Academy research projects, will be modified to assess this new model.
Time Frame
Facility level outcome, thus outcome will be done at study completion for the site years 2 through 4
Title
Change in percent of patients receiving nutrition care and meals
Description
Pre and post numbers of patients who have malnutrition and are referred from the acute care setting to the community setting receiving care by an RDN and meals from meal provision title III-C1 and C2 funded organizations will be captured and calculated for a percent change from the control period to post implementation of the new model
Time Frame
3 months
Title
Food Security Risk
Description
The food security risk assessment tool is valid has 6 questions and will be used to determine security risk.
Time Frame
3 months post discharge from the hospital
Title
Malnutrition risk
Description
The malnutrition screening tool is a valid tool for determining risk of malnutrition in adults.
Time Frame
baseline in hospital and at 3 months post discharge from the hospital
Title
Malnutrition Diagnosis (AAIM tool)
Description
Validated diagnostic tool for moderate and severe malnutrition in adults.
Time Frame
3 months post discharge from the hospital
10. Eligibility
Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
60 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
English or Spanish speaking,
Screened as at risk for malnutrition (Malnutrition Screening Tool),
Meet the definition for food insecure per the Food Security Risk tool,
Referred to an RDN,
Diagnosed with malnutrition using AAIM,
Plan for discharge to home, and
Eligible to receive Title III-C1 or Title III-C2 nutrition services.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients are receiving hospice care or care for end stage cancer,
Unable to consume meals (e.g., using enteral or parenteral to meet nutrition needs), Do not live within the meal provision organizations catchment.
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Lindsay Woodstock, PhD
Phone
3128994797
Email
lwoodstock@eatright.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Constantina Papoutsakis, PhD
Phone
3128994721
Email
cpapoutsakis@eatright.org
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Alison L Steiber
Organizational Affiliation
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
12. IPD Sharing Statement
Plan to Share IPD
No
Learn more about this trial
Essential Connections: Hospital to Community Impacting Malnutrition Outcomes in Older Adults
We'll reach out to this number within 24 hrs