Experiences of providing nutritional care and collaborating with the nutrition support team: a qualitative study among hospital doctors and nurses

Abstract

This qualitative cross-sectional study explored physicians’ and nurses’ experiences with providing nutritional care and their collaboration with the nutrition support team in the Estonian hospital context. The participants were from Internal Medicine Clinics (n=17) and Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Clinics (n=14) at Tartu University Hospital, who completed a web-based, self-administered and open-ended questionnaire during January 2025. The data was analysed using a descriptive qualitative thematic analysis inductive approach. Three key themes were identified: nutritional screening and assessment practice, collaboration with the nutrition support team, and roles and perspectives of health professionals in nutritional care. The study findings provide insights into hospital nutritional care by identifying areas for improvement. This study concluded the need to increase the awareness of the nutrition support team among hospital staff and to implement routine nutritional screening aligned with international guidelines. Targeted training programs for doctors and nurses, and increasing nurses' involvement in nutritional care, can foster teamwork and support early identification and improved management of malnutrition in hospital settings.