Iftikhar Alam1*, Wajid Alam2, Atta Ullah Jan1
1Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. 2Department of Dentistry, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan, KP Pakistan
*Correspondence Email Address: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Background: There is relatively little body of knowledge added with huge lack of consensus concerning what suitable algorithms could be used by the medical doctors for calculation of energy and protein for the hospitalized patients. Objective: To develop consensus among nutrition experts on equation that can be used for calculation of energy requirements in a clinical setting. Methods: This study was descriptive in nature and utilized a three-round Delphi technique to identify algorithms for calculation of energy and protein requirement of the hospitalized patients. A panel of experts (n=18) in the field of nutrition participated in the study. An open-ended question, asking the experts to identify the easiest algorithms that can be used for calculation of energy and protein requirements, was developed. The responses received from the experts were analyzed and sent again for scoring. Descriptive statistics were used and means scores were calculated using a Likert scale. Consensus was established as a mean rating of ≥3.0, a coefficient of variation of ≤30%, and f3+4 ≥75% (signifies that ≥75% of panel members scoring ‘3’ = important or ‘4’ = very important on the Likert scale). Results: Consequent upon repeated consensus building process, the experts identified and agreed upon nineteen algorithms for various diseases categorized under five broad areas i.e., hyper-metabolic diseases, moderately hyper-metabolic diseases, not metabolic diseases, Renal disease and critically ill patients. Conclusion: These algorithms are useful tools for calculation of energy and protein requirements. We recommend research studies to further explore validities of these algorithms in Pakistani subjects. The study identified some algorithm that can be used to determine protein energy requirements of patients. Further studies are needed for validation of these algorithms in the context unique needs of patients in Pakistani hospitals.
Keywords: Hospitalized Patients, Nutrition, Protein Energy Requirements
Citation: Alam I, Alam W, Jan AU. Determination of Energy and Protein Requirements for Hospitalized Patients Using Prediction Equation – Utilization of the Delphi Technique. Canadian Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2022; 10 (1): 4-12.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2022.01.02
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