Project title
Assessment of the perioperative nutritional knowledge of medical doctors for elective surgery in public hospitals in East London, Eastern Cape province, South Africa.
Country
South Africa
Background
The perioperative period presents considerable nutritional challenges for surgical patients, and can be significantly influenced by factors such as pre-existing health conditions, fasting, surgical stress, and metabolic disturbances. These can collectively heighten the risk of malnutrition and its associated complications, including infections, delayed recovery, prolonged hospitalisation, and increased mortality rates. Despite the critical role of nutritional assessment and intervention, there remains a troubling tendency among healthcare providers to neglect malnutrition in surgical settings. This highlights an urgent need for enhanced education on identifying and managing nutritional deficiencies before surgery. In South Africa, where high postoperative mortality rates intersect with the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and pervasive poverty, the necessity for preoperative metabolic preparation is particularly acute. However, resource constraints further hinder effective nutritional strategies. This research seeks to function as a quality improvement initiative, advocating for policy reforms and raising awareness among medical professionals about the vital importance of perioperative nutrition through their nutritional knowledge assessment. The goal is to reduce morbidity and enhance patient outcomes within the Eastern Cape healthcare framework.
Summary
The study will use a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design to investigate the doctors' understanding of perioperative nutrition, including nutritional screening, preoperative nutritional therapy, preoperative fasting, and postoperative nutritional therapy. Additionally, it seeks to identify factors influencing the knowledge levels among physicians of different specialities. By systematically assessing these dimensions, the research aspires to enhance the nutritional care provided to surgical patients, thereby contributing to improved surgical outcomes and patient wellbeing in the region.
Outcome
This study aims to illuminate the deficiencies in perioperative nutritional knowledge among physicians in South Africa, a context characterised by limited existing research in this domain. By examining variables such as age, sex, specialisation, and years of service, the study comprehensively assesses the current state of preoperative nutritional care. The anticipated findings will highlight critical knowledge gaps and introduce enhancing medical education curricula, ultimately fostering improved patient management practices in surgical settings nationwide.