RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EATING PROBLEMS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS AFTER CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT

Abstract

Stroke patients in an acute- care setting present a most diverse picture(ll. One of the most critical and common factor in the care of the stroke patients is eating(28). Assessment of the patient's nutritional state and his/ her ability to eat is an important nursing task(57l. The nurse should assess the patient's eating ability for chewing and swallowing. Observing intake of food, evaluating the client's tolerance and awareness to eating problems and assisting the client with eating(28,58l. Additionally, a consistant assessment of nutritional status should be done.

The main objectives of this study were to assess the nutritional status of the stroke patients. identify the eating problems for the stroke patients and explore the interrelations between eating problems and nutritional status for the stroke patients. The study was conducted in neurologic units. Follow up was done in neurologic outpatient clinics and patient's homes.

The sample comprised 14 males and 36 females who were adult, oral feeding and diagnosed "stroke".

3 Tools were used in this study ;

First is the patient assessment sheet.

The second tool is an observational checklist. The third tool is a nutritional status assessment.