The acceptability and feasibility of finger foods
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study to determine the acceptability and feasibility of finger foods, a nutritional support intervention, for patients after stroke in hospital: A mixed methods approach.
IRAS ID
240341
Contact name
Amelia Heelan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
It is important that hospitals provide patients with food and drink that meets their needs. People who have had a stroke can find it difficult to use cutlery or focus on eating a full meal. This can mean that they eat less than they need.
Finger foods are easier for people to eat as they can be picked up by hand without the need for cutlery. Finger foods include foods like potato wedges, sandwiches and cut up fruit.
The effect of offering patients finger foods in hospital has not been investigated thoroughly, although some research has been done in care homes. Offering finger foods in care homes, particularly to people who are confused, has been shown to increase food intake and independence. Importantly people in care homes also report that they like finger foods.
This study aims to find out if it is possible to introduce a finger food menu in a hospital stroke ward. It aims to find out if it helps patients to eat more and what patients and staff think of them.
Patients on a hospital stroke rehabilitation unit who agree to take part will be offered a normal hospital menu at one lunch time and then a finger food menu at the following two lunchtimes. The amount of food they eat will be measured by photographing the lunch plate before and after they have eaten. As well as working out how many calories and nutrients have been eaten, the cost of offering a finger food menu will be estimated.
Participants, their relatives and staff will be asked what they thought of the finger foods.
The findings will be used to prepare for a future, larger study to fully assess whether finger foods should be offered on stroke wards.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0576
Date of REC Opinion
21 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion