Dietitian referrals in hospitals – need for improvement

Background Nutritional counselling by clinical dietitians is strongly recommended for patients at risk of nutritional problems or nutrition-related diseases. Dietitian involvement has considerable benefits for hospitalized patients, resulting in better health outcomes and improved quality of life. However, dietitian referral routines are often inappropriate in hospitals. The aim of this study was to identify independent predictors for dietitian referrals in hospitalized patients. As a secondary aim, an assessment was performed of the referral rates to dietitians for different medical conditions in Austrian hospi…