Community-Based Nutrition Risk Screening in Older Adults (COMRISK): An Exploration of the Experience of Being Screened and Prevalence of Nutrition Risk in Alberta, Canada

The objectives of this feasibility study were to measure the prevalence of nutrition risk in community-dwelling older adults (CDOA, ages >= 65 years) and explore the perspectives of CDOA of the acceptability, value, and effectiveness of nutrition risk screening in primary care and community settings. Using the Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition (SCREEN)(c) eight-item tool (n = 276), results indicated that moderate and high nutrition risks affected 50 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, of those screened. Interviewees (n = 16) agreed that screening is acceptable, important, and valuable (Theme One). Effectiveness was unclear, as only 3 of 16 respondents recalled being told their nutrition risk status. When articulating nutrition-related issues, a food security theme, expressed in the third person, was prominent (Theme Two). Screening for nutrition risk and receiving nutrition information in community-based settings are acceptable to CDOA and medically necessary, as evidenced by the high proportion of CDOA at moderate-high nutrition risk. Les objectifs de cette etude de faisabilite etaient de mesurer la prevalence du risque nutritionnel chez les personnes agees vivant a domicile (>= 65 ans) et d'explorer les points de vue de ces personnes sur l'acceptabilite, la valeur et l'efficacite du depistage du risque nutritionnel dans des contextes de soins primaires et en milieu communautaire. Les resultats obtenus a l'aide du questionnaire SCREEN (Seniors in the Community : Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition) en huit points (n = 276) ont revele un risque nutritionnel modere pour 50 % des participants et eleve pour 8 % d'entre eux. Les participants aux entrevues (n = 16) ont convenu que le depistage est acceptable, important et porteur de valeur (theme 1). L'efficacite des entrevues etait incertaine, seulement 3 des 16 repondants s'etant rappele avoir ete informes de leur etat de risque nutritionnel. Dans la formulation des problemes lies a la nutrition, le theme de la securite alimentaire, exprime a la troisieme personne, etait dominant (theme 2). Le depistage du risque nutritionnel et l'information sur la nutrition dans des contextes communautaires est acceptable pour les personnes agees vivant a domicile, et medicalement necessaire, compte tenu de la forte proportion de cette population qui presente un risque de modere a eleve.

Automated summary

The objectives of this feasibility study were to measure the prevalence of nutrition risk in community-dwelling older adults and explore their perspectives on the acceptability, value, and effectiveness of nutrition risk screening in primary care and community settings. The study found that moderate and high nutrition risks affected a significant proportion of those screened. Interviewees agreed that screening is acceptable, important, and valuable, but the effectiveness of the screening needs further investigation.