In a study of more than 600 patient meals in four hospital wards, researchers found that how patients were physically positioned in their beds — rather than mealtime interruptions — impacted how much they ate, and ultimately the speed of their recoveries, according to new research.
They found that sitting up during a meal was associated with good food intake, compared to lying down. Meal interruptions had no impact on intake, but eating assistance within 10 minutes of the beginning of a meal was associated with better food intake, according to the study.
"Hospital mealtimes can be busy and chaotic for staff and patients alike," Adrienne Young, PhD, lead author of the study, said in a statement. "This study suggests that focusing on correctly positioning and helping patients with their meal can make a difference to the amount that patients eat, which ultimately may help them on their way to a faster recovery."