Stuck in tradition‐A qualitative study on barriers for implementation of evidence‐based nutritional care perceived by nursing staff

Aims and objectives To explore the barriers for nutritional care as perceived by nursing staff at an acute orthopaedic ward, aiming to implement evidence‐based nutritional care. Background Previous studies indicate that nurses recognise nutritional care as important, but interventions are often lacking. These studies show that a range of barriers influence the attempt to optimise nutritional care. Before the implementation of evidence‐based nutritional care, we examined barriers for nutritional care among the nursing staff. Design Qualitative study. Methods Four focus groups with thirteen members of the nursing staff were interviewed between October 2013–June 2014. The interview guide was designed according to the Theoretical Domains Framework. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Three main categories emerged: lacking common practice, failing to initiate treatment and struggling with existing resources. The nursing staff was lacking both knowledge and common practice regarding nutritional care. They felt they protected patient autonomy by accepting patient′s reluctance to eat or getting a feeding tube. The lack of nutritional focus from doctors decreased the nursing staffs focus leading to nonoptimal nutritional treatment. Competing priorities, physical setting and limited nutritional supplements were believed to hinder nutritional care. Conclusion The results suggest that nutritional care is in a transitional state from experience‐ to evidence‐based practice. Barriers for nutritional care are grounded in lack of knowledge among nursing staff and insufficient collaboration between nursing staff and the doctors. There is a need for nutritional education for the nursing staff and better support from the organisation to help nursing staff provide evidence‐based nutritional care. Relevance to clinical practice This study contributes with valuable knowledge before the implementation of evidence‐based nutritional care. The study provides an understanding of barriers for nutritional care and presents explanations to why nutritional care has failed to become an integrated part of the daily treatment and care.