COMmunity-Based Nutrition RISK Screening in Older Adults Living Independently (COMRISK): Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of Community Partnership Models in Alberta, Canada

This feasibility study of routine nutrition risk screening in community-dwelling older adults using a partnership between health care and community-based organizations (CBO) aimed to (1) evaluate the ability of community-based partnerships to provide screening for nutrition risk, and appropriately refer at-risk individuals for follow-up care and (2) determine the barriers to and facilitators of screening. Adults 65 years of age and older were screened by staff in two primary care and one CBO setting using the Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition (SCREEN)-8 nutrition risk screening tool. Screeners, organization administrators, and registered dietitians responded to surveys regarding SCREEN-8 administration, referral processes, and partnership interactions. All found the SCREEN-8 initiative feasible, acceptable, and appropriate. Sustainability requires strengthening of community resources, referral processes, and telephone assessments. The partnership added value despite limitations in communications. We conclude that broader implementation of this program using community-based partnerships has the potential to aid in the prevention of malnutrition in older adults. Cette etude de faisabilite sur le depistage routinier du risque nutritionnel chez les personnes agees vivant a domicile, menee grace a un partenariat entre des organismes de soins de sante et des organismes communautaires, visait a : (1) evaluer la capacite des partenariats communautaires de fournir des services de depistage du risque nutritionnel et d'orienter les personnes concernees vers des soins de suivi, et a (2) determiner les obstacles et les facteurs de facilitation lies au depistage. Des membres du personnel de deux etablissements de soins de sante primaire et d'un organisme communautaire ont evalue des patients ages de 65 ans et plus a l'aide de l'outil de depistage du risque nutritionnel SCREEN-8. Les depisteurs, administrateurs d'organismes et dietetistes autorises qui ont participe a l'etude ont repondu a des sondages sur l'administration du questionnaire SCREEN-8, les processus de recommandation et les interactions au sein du partenariat. Le partenariat a apporte une valeur ajoutee malgre les limites dans les communications. Nous concluons qu'une plus large mise en oe uvre de ce programme par l'intermediaire de partenariats communautaires peut contribuer a la prevention de la malnutrition chez les personnes agees.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the feasibility of routine nutrition risk screening in community-dwelling older adults using a partnership between health care and community-based organizations. The results showed that the partnership was able to provide screening and appropriate referrals for at-risk individuals. However, sustainability requires strengthening of community resources, referral processes, and telephone assessments.