INSIGHT Enhancing nutritional research within an aged care facility Caryl NOWSON, 1 Heather JARMAN 1 and Angela HERD 2 1 Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, 2 School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia Abstract Aim: The present study examined the barriers to the implementation of a nutritional intervention project and sought ways to enhance future projects. Methods: The study, utilising a qualitative approach, included participants from key areas involved in the project and who were employed by either the university or regional aged care facility. Results: Through analysis the themes ‘successes’, ‘stumbling blocks’ and ‘solutions’ emerged. Within these themes descriptive stories of what worked, what did not work and suggestions for future projects are depicted. Conclusions: Communication was the connecting element of each theme, suggesting effective verbal and written communication that ensures ownership by all involved is essential for successful clinical research projects. Strate- gies to enhance this process have been included to assist future researchers. Key words: homes for the aged, interdisciplinary communication, nutritional sciences, qualitative research. INTRODUCTION In 2004, a collaborative research project, investigators from a Melbourne School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and a large health service within regional Victoria, Australia com- menced. This project was funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant with industry collaborators (Murray Goulbourn Nutriceuticals and Sigma Pharmaceutical). In addition, the regional health service agreed to collaborate on the project and provide ‘in kind’ assistance. The aim of the project was to assess the impact on health indicators of a high protein, high calcium and vitamin D fortified milk either alone or in combination with a multivitamin supple- ment for six months. The intervention component of the project began in December 2004, and included the provision of fortified milk in 200-mL cartons to selected residential aged care high care nursing home units and low care hostels with the aim that the residents participating in the project would consume significant quantities of the fortified milk during the six months of the project. Implementing this project required the participation of a number of different staff members with a variety of roles. To enhance the understanding among all areas involved, an interdisciplinary Advisory Group that included both the university research team and clinical staff that was repre- sentative of all areas involved in the project (see Figure 1) was established prior to the implementation of the project. The group was established to promote understanding of all components of the project through communication between members, to provide advice to the researchers for implementation of the study and to act as a conduit for dissemination of outcomes. Through discussions within this group it was agreed that any outcomes from the project could be used by the health service to support their quality activities. The multivitamin/placebo component of the project pro- ceeded according to plan with 115 participating residents consuming the tablets for six months. During the project a number of barriers and issues concerning its implementa- tion were raised, negotiated, and, in the majority of cases, resolved. However, the provision of the fortified milk was only executed to varying degrees, leading to complete dis- continuation after four months. This process resulted in the accumulation of considerable anecdotal information; however, empirical evidence was required so that future studies could be implemented effectively within the con- straints of existing staffing levels. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to identify the barriers to imple- mentation of positive nutritional changes, and to use this information to propose a series of strategies to overcome these issues for a planned future nutritional research project. C. Nowson, PhD, APD, Professor of Nutrition and Aging H. Jarman, MN, PhD, Research Fellow A. Herd, PhD, APD, Research Fellow Correspondence: C. Nowson, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. Email: nowson@deakin.edu.au Accepted December 2007 Nutrition & Dietetics 2008; 65: 157–161 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-0080.2008.00279.x © 2008 The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Dietitians Association of Australia 157