STREAM - Feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Screen and TREAt for Malnutrition (STREAM) Programme\nWorkstream 1: Feasibility study\n
IRAS ID
224100
Contact name
Paul Little
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
About 13% of older people living at home are at risk of malnutrition. This may be because they are not getting enough to eat, or because they are not eating enough of the right food. \nWe have developed what is known as an ‘intervention’, to help doctors and nurses in general practice to check if older adults who live at home are at risk of malnutrition. They can then offer support to those who need it. Our intervention, called ‘Eat well, feel well, stay well’, includes MUST (the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool), booklets and other materials for older adults, and a support tool for health professionals. The support tool includes guidance about when to see patients and when to use oral nutritional supplements.\n\nMUST was developed by experts at BAPEN . The rest of the intervention was developed by experts who looked at previous literature to find what helps or hinders older adults eating well, and what is likely to work best in general practice. The intervention was improved after feedback from people aged over 65 years, patients and healthcare professionals.\n\nIn the study, we aim to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. We will compare two versions of the intervention. One is a brief intervention with MUST screening, patient booklets and follow-up; the other is a stepped care intervention. This means that patients will have the brief intervention plus oral nutritional supplements (ONS) for short spells when they are unwell. We will also follow a group of patients who have the usual care that is provided by their doctors’ surgery. We will assess outcomes including change in eating patterns, weight and quality of life. The results of the feasibility study will help us to design a full trial. We will also compare patients and health professionals’ experiences of being in these three different groups.\n
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0453
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion