Patients' Voices and Dietitians' Perspectives on Meaningful Aspects in the Nutritional Care of Patients at Risk of Malnutrition After Stroke.

BACKGROUND

After a stroke, patients may have complex eating difficulties that can lead to a risk for malnutrition. Individualised nutritional care could be optimised by identifying meaningful factors in the patient's relationship with food and eating. This study explored the perspectives of dietitians regarding the nutritional care of these patients and the experiences of patients in relation to food and eating in everyday life at home.

METHODS

Two focus groups with five registered dietitians in each and eight individual semi-structured patient interviews were conducted. The two data sets were analysed separately with inductive qualitative analysis using a thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

In the nutritional care of these patients, the dietitians specifically highlighted: (1) Practical aspects, (2) Support and social aspects and (3) Feelings and emotions. The patient interviews revealed four themes: (1) Ability to prepare and eat food, (2) Issues affecting food enjoyment, (3) Social aspects of eating and mealtimes and (4) Emotional relationship with food.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients described symptoms after a stroke impacting food enjoyment, social identity, and well-being. While dietitians reported addressing practical, social, and emotional aspects of food and eating, they lacked appropriate tools to measure these. There was a discrepancy between the focus of dietitians and that of patients; appropriate tools are needed to address these perspectives to provide high-quality patient-centred care.