Background & Aim
Various initiatives have been taken and recommended to improve foodservice and nutritional care to hospitals patients. However, a broad description and analysis of what has been done to reach a better foodservice is lacking. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to map aspects highlighted as important in scientific articles pertaining to the improvement of foodservice for hospital inpatients.
Methods
A scoping review was conducted, including literature searches in four databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) and an article selection process. Included studies were peer reviewed primary research written in English, published in 2000–2023, focusing on quality and improvement work in organisations and practice concerning provision of food and meals to hospital inpatients. Besides data charting of article characteristics, data were obtained for qualitative synthesis.
Results
Out of the 103 included articles, almost all (n=102) contained aspects associated with systems of different kinds. Foremost were systems for ordering, production, delivery and menus. Additionally, there were systems for structures, evaluation, and control. Other frequently occurring aspects concerned patients (n=84), e.g. considering their nutritional requirements, preferences, and cultural habits, as well as empowering patients with freedom of choice, information and guidance. Aspects concerning professional development, e.g. training, competence and teamwork were scarcer (n=46) and even fewer articles entailed aspects regarding leadership (n=21).
Conclusions
The broad spectrum of aspects that were identified may provide guidance to quality improvement of hospital foodservice. It also indicated research gaps in this field, foremost concerning relational competence and leadership.
2024. Vol. 54, p. 1-40