P102 - ENHANCING DIARRHEA MANAGEMENT IN ENTERALLY FED PATIENTS: A DIETITIAN-LED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

P102

ENHANCING DIARRHEA MANAGEMENT IN ENTERALLY FED PATIENTS: A DIETITIAN-LED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

A. A. Alfehaidi^1,*

¹HMC, Doha, Qatar

 

Rationale: Diarrhea is a common complication in enterally fed patients, affecting up to 60% of critically ill individuals. This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate and optimize the role of dietitians in managing diarrhea in patients receiving enteral nutrition 

Methods: A six-month quality improvement initiative was implemented in the ICU of a tertiary hospital. The project involved:

Baseline assessment of diarrhea incidence and current management practices.

Development of a standardized protocol for dietitian interventions, including Bimuno supplementation.

Implementation of targeted dietary strategies.

Staff education on EN management and diarrhea prevention.

Continuous monitoring and evaluation of outcomes

Results: The dietitian-led interventions resulted in significant improvements:

Reduction in Diarrhea Incidence: Diarrhea incidence decreased from 58% to 32% (p < 0.01), with 68% of cases resolving within 72 hours of dietitian-led interventions.

Protocol Adherence: 82% adherence to the new protocol, leading to a 40% shorter diarrhea duration (2.1 vs. 3.5 days; p = 0.03).

Staff and System Outcomes: ICU nurses reported 90% satisfaction with dietitian-led management. EN interruptions due to diarrhea decreased by 50%, improving nutrient delivery.

Conclusion: This project highlighted the essential role of dietitians in reducing diarrhea among enterally fed patients through evidence-based strategies and targeted interventions. It underscores the importance of dietitian involvement in multidisciplinary care and offers a model for future quality improvement in enteral nutrition management.

References: Lee, Y.Y., et al. (2024)."Dietitian-led enteral nutrition protocols reduce complications in ICU patients: A meta-analysis."Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 
124(2), 234–245.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared