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Table 1 Quality indicators selected for the study and content of the forms used for collecting data

From: A cross-sectional survey to investigate the quality of care in Tuscan (Italy) nursing homes: the structural, process and outcome indicators of nutritional care

Quality indicators

Collected information

Form for collecting data on nutritional care at NHs level

Form for collecting data on nutritional care at individual level

Form for collecting data on case-mix at individual level

Structural indicators [13]:

type of scales used to weigh residents (if any)

Type of scales used to weigh the residents (if any)

Personal data (date of birth, gender)

Length of stay in NH

employment of dietitians and type of consultation

Type of nutrition screening tool applied (if any) and frequency of utilisation

Number of hospital admissions during the 12 months before the day of the survey

Severe dementia (Global Deterioration Scale) [23]

number of operators assigned to the administration of meals in a specific day

Presence and use of protocols or guidelines for weight assessment

Data used to calculate the MUST score (anthropometric data, unplanned weight loss in previous 3–6 months, whether the resident is acutely ill and whether there has been or is likely to be no nutritional intake for more than 5 days)

Bedridden for almost 18 h/day

Process indicators [13]:

use of a nutrition screening tool

Presence and use of protocols or guidelines for administration of food

Feeding mode (enteral feeding, parenteral feeding, syringed-feeding, texture-modified diet)

Physical impairment (Barthel Index, 100 = “completely dependent”) [24]

presence of protocols or guidelines for weight assessment

Assessment of dysphagia

If the subject is following a program to change his body weight

Cognitive impairment (Pfeiffer test score) [25]

presence of protocols or guidelines for administration of food

Employment of dietitians

Number of own teeth and presence of dentures or removable bridges

Mood and behaviour pattern, SOSIA form [26]

Assessment of dysphagia

Number of operators assigned to administration of meals in a specific day

Functional ability during eating, using the Eating Behaviour Scale [21]

Communication, hearing and vision patterns, SVAMA schedule [27, 28]

  

Semi-quantitative assessment of the amount of food consumed at lunch in the day of the survey, according to similar studies and contexts [22], with indications regarding the intake of complementary or substitute supplements, the causes of the partial consumption of lunch and the place in which the lunch was consumed

 

Outcome indicators:

Prevalence of subjects with medium-high risk of malnutrition

 

Place where meals were consumed on the day of the survey (dining room or bedroom)

Comorbidity, according to Disease Count (DC) [28]

  

Presence of dysphagia (yes/no)