The challenges facing residential aged care homes to participate in quality food and nutrition research

Danielle Cave; Karen L. Abbey; Sandra Capra

doi:10.1111/jhn.13154

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The challenges facing residential aged care homes to participate in quality food and nutrition research

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The challenges facing residential aged care homes to participate in quality food and nutrition research

Danielle Cave, Karen L. Abbey and Sandra Capra

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol.36(4), pp.1547-1555

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13154

PMID: 36752077

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Abstract

complexity science

nutrition

aged care

food

Research

quality

Background: There is a clear need for food and nutrition research to lead to pragmatic and sustainable solutions to the ongoing problems in residential aged care, particularly within foodservices. The present study aimed to identify systemic challenges for residential aged care homes in Australia to participate in quality food and nutrition research, using a complexity science lens. Methods: Qualitative data from three studies in residential aged care were gathered, which included 28 participants across 21 aged care homes. Qualitative data consisted of in-depth interviews, field notes and email communications with aged care staff. Thematic analysis was undertaken using both inductive and deductive approaches. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) complex staffing issues deter or impede participation in research; (2) external pressure on the aged care system leads to research not being a priority; (3) funding issues are variable and pose a barrier for some aged care homes; and (4) research processes and requirements can lead to biased samples. Conclusions: Several challenges to undertaking quality empirical research in residential aged care in Australia were identified. Research needs to be part of usual business, similar to hospitals, and operate independently of staffing and funding issues. Issues within foodservices are system issues and there is a need for quality empirical research to determine solutions.

Details

Title: The challenges facing residential aged care homes to participate in quality food and nutrition research
Authors: Danielle Cave (Corresponding Author) - The University of Queensland
Karen L. Abbey (Author) - The University of Queensland
Sandra Capra (Author) - The University of Queensland
Publication details: Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol.36(4), pp.1547-1555
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13154
ISSN: 1365-277X; 0952-3871
PMID: 36752077
Copyright note: © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Dietetic Association. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Grant note: Trisco Foods Pty Ltd School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99713298902621
Output Type: Journal article