Efficacy of an outpatient home nutritional therapy program

Abstract

Introduction: Outpatient home nutritional therapy is a care model that allows improving the use of health resources and providing continuity to in-hospital interventions in malnourished patients with intestinal failure.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness quality -quantitative in patients who are part of an outpatient home nutritional therapy program.

Material and methods: Mixed study. The quantitative phase collected the impact indicators of all patients (34), at the beginning of the program and currently. In the qualitative phase, 9 participants were interviewed for theoretical saturation. The quantitative analysis applied descriptive statistics, Anova and Student's T; the qualitative developed transcription, ordering, coding-categorization, description and interpretation.

Results: The average nutritional and biochemical indicators increased since the beginning of the program: BMI from 19.95 to 21.88, albumin from 3.63 mg/dl to 3.80 mg/dl, proteins from 7.16 mg/dl to 7.29 mg/dl and lymphocytes from 26.62µl to 29.89µl. Patients and family members presented difficulties that were overcome; They point out strengths of the PTNDA program and perceived satisfaction.

Conclusion: BMI is the only indicator that presented significant differences between patients according to years of experience in the program (2 and 3 years). Overall, BMI and lymphocytes have significant differences from the beginning of the program to the present. Patients and family members report a positive impact and satisfaction with the PTNDA for the maintenance and/or improvement of their nutritional status.