Three Channel Food Concept: the Effect Meal Service on Food Intake During Hospitalization

Three Channel Food Concept: the Effect on Food Intake During Hospitalization (Dutch: Het Driekanalenconcept: Het Effect op Voedingsinname Tijdens Ziekenhuisopname)

The goal of this observational study is to assess food intake in hospitalized patients.

The present study will evaluate the impact of a novel in-hospital meal concept (three channel food concept) on total energy and protein intake, macronutrient distribution, and patient appreciation

Food intake will be assessed (as part of usual care) by weighing all leftovers (e.g. food that patients did not consume).

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Nutrition Poor
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: meal service

Detailed Description

There are various possible strategies to increase protein intake during hospitalization, such as providing more protein-rich foods, fortifying meals and/or food products, supplementation with oral nutritional supplements (ONS), and/or providing well-timed snacks. An appropriate in-hospital meal service is regarded as a key element of the strategy to minimize deterioration of the nutritional status. Conventional hospital meals, 3 main meals a day prepared by a central kitchen, are often low in protein and energy and are not appreciated by patients due to lack of taste, colour and flavour, resulting in inadequate food intake particularly protein intake. There are a number of avenues to improve nutritional intake, with type of meal service and existence of individual contact with catering staff, like mealtime assistance, as important factors. The MUMC+ has adapted it's in-hospital meal system and the present study will evaluate the impact of this novel in-hospital meal concept (three channel food concept) on total energy and protein intake, macronutrient distribution, and patient appreciation.

The aim of this study is to assess whether a novel in-hospital meal concept can effectively increase daily total protein and energy intake during hospitalization, when compared to a historic control.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 102

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Michelle EG Weijzen, PhD; Phone Number: 0433887088; Email: m.weijzen@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Maastricht, Netherlands
    • Maastricht University Medical Centre
    • Contact: Luc JC van Loon, PhD; Phone Number: +31-43-3881397; Email: l.vanloon@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients (>18y) admitted to surgery nursing wards of the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• >18y
• Admitted to surgical nursing wards of MUMC+
• Expected hospital stay of at least 3 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• Receiving (par)enteral nutrition
• "NPO" (nil per os) policy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
current in-hospital meal service; n=102 patients admitted to the Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+) (surgical nursing wards) will be included.	Other: meal service; We're not subjecting patients to an intervention, as we will evaluate the current in-hospital meal service. As the three channel food concept is standard of care, we're not subjecting patients to dietary or behavioral changes. We will compare the data to an historic control.
old in-hospital meal service; This will be an historic control group (data already collected in the past)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
total protein intake	total protein intake (g/kg/d)	during hospitalization (minimal 2days max 5days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
total energy intake	energy intake in kcal per day	during hospitalization (minimal 2days max 5days)
macronutrient intake	carbohydrate, fat and protein intake (g/day)	during hospitalization (minimal 2days max 5days)
Patient appreciation	Patient appreciation will be assessed using a question "what grade would you give the hospital food	during hospitalization (minimal 2days max 5days)
Body weight upon hospital admission	body weight in kilograms	upon hospital admission
Body height upon hospital admission	body height in meters	upon hospital admission
reason hospital admission	will be derived from electronical patient dossier	upon hospital admission

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Maastricht University Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Luc JC van Loon, PhD, Maastricht University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): May 3, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 3, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Deficiency Diseases; Protein Deficiency; Malnutrition; Protein-Energy Malnutrition
• Other Study ID Numbers: 302653

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: Individual raw data can be shared upon reasonable request

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No