Analysis of the Necessity of On-site Nutrition Support in Home Medical Care Settings : A Questionnaire Survey of Home-visit Nursing Agencies

Abstract

Solving diet and/or nutrition problems is an important issue especially in home medical care settings. We performed a questionnaire survey concerning the necessity of on-site nutrition support among 339 home-visit nursing agencies in Chiba prefecture. The responses appropriate for the analysis were obtained from 83 facilities (effective response rate 24.5％). All facilities have been asked about the diet and/or nutrition problems of their patients, and 25 facilities answer the questions. In cases where facilities were unable to answer, the major solutions are “consultation with staff nurses” (49.4％), “looking up information on the internet” (42.2％), “consultation with a doctor” (30.1％), and then “consultation with an administrative dietitian” (only 18.1％). The visiting nurses found it difficult to answer some the various confounding questions arising from patients’ multiplex conditions. Therefore, skillful administrative dietitians should be demanded in home medical care settings.