Conectar
To identify and synthesise existing evidence on family-centred care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other diverse identities (LGBTQ+) people in acute hospital settings, including hospital-based palliative care, oncology, general in-patient and intensive care.
A scoping review guided by the JBI methodology.
Nine databases and grey literature sources were searched. Inclusion criteria focused on LGBTQ+ adults and family-related care experiences in hospital-based acute settings. After screening, qualitative, quantitative, and narrative data were extracted. Thematic analysis synthesised findings, with quantitative data narratively integrated.
Searches were conducted across nine databases and grey literature up to April 2025.
Five studies met inclusion criteria: three qualitative, one quantitative, and one reflective narrative. Four themes emerged: (1) invisibility and disclosure dilemmas, (2) exclusion of chosen families from visiting and decision-making, (3) barriers to inclusive communication and provider competence, and (4) enabling conditions for affirming care. Challenges occurred at interpersonal (e.g., provider assumptions, discomfort) and structural (e.g., lack of inclusive protocols, failure to recognise legal surrogates) levels. In the two studies reporting gender identity, transgender participants described heightened misrecognition and exclusion.
LGBTQ+ individuals and their chosen families face relational and structural barriers in acute hospital care. Inclusive interventions, protocols, and training are urgently needed to ensure affirming care.
Acute and intensive care providers should promote inclusive family engagement by using patient-preferred terminology, recognising chosen families, and advocating for inclusive policies and staff training.
This scoping review adhered to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
Registered with the Open Science Framework: 10.17605/OSF.IO/FSU8D (23/02/2025)
To assess the prevalence of malnutrition risk, especially of undernutrition, among patients admitted to the Internal Medicine and Orthopaedics wards at Michele and Pietro Ferrero Hospital, Italy, using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) tool, administered by trained nursing staff, and to evaluate the adherence to related care interventions.
Cross-sectional study.
We included 248 adult patients, screened by trained nurses for nutritional risk within 48 h of admission using the NRS-2002 tool, which takes into account patients' Body Mass Index, recent weight loss, reduced dietary intake, and disease severity. Information on nursing interventions was also collected.
We identified 36 subjects at risk of malnutrition with NRS ≥ 3. Prevalence was higher in Internal Medicine, reflecting differences in patient characteristics and clinical complexity. Patients at risk were older, had longer hospital stays, and higher risks of falls and pressure sores. Nursing interventions such as proper meal selection, administration of hypercaloric-hyperproteic supplements, and completion of food diary were implemented in most cases, although adherence was not complete. Post-training questionnaire showed that, overall, nurses integrated nutritional screening into practice, but areas for improvement were identified.
Results confirmed the high prevalence of malnutrition risk in hospitalised patients, especially in Internal Medicine. Proper training and empowerment can enable nurses to effectively identify and manage patients at intermediate risk of malnutrition.
Nurses can play key roles in hospital nutritional care by facilitating early identification and appropriate management of patients at malnutrition risk.
Malnutrition is very common among inpatients. Trained and empowered nurses can perform nutritional screening at admission to identify and early manage patients at risk, thereby helping to prevent increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs.
STROBE guidelines.
None.
FreshRSS 