· New online survey1 shows 98% of respondents think that good nutrition is important to help recovery from illness‡ and nearly a quarter would be more likely to follow a prescribed treatment or dosage if they liked the taste‡‡
· Abbott launches a new educational film for healthcare professionals on the importance of taste and its impact on compliance to oral nutritional supplements and improved patient outcomes
MAIDENHEAD, UK. 28th January 2015. Over 3 million people in the UK can either be malnourished or at risk of malnutrition at any given time2, yet encouraging malnourished individuals to increase their nutritional intake can be challenging. To help address this challenge, Abbott has launched a new educational video for healthcare professionals about the role and importance of taste and its link to compliance and positive patient outcomes. The resource, which has been endorsed by the British Dietetic Association (BDA) for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), considers the psychology of taste, the role of sensory science in the development of nutritional products, and the clinical application of taste.
Research has shown that taste strongly influences patient preference and is one of the most important sensory drivers of compliance to oral nutritional supplements (ONS).3,4 Changes to our sense of taste when we are feeling unwell can have a big impact on how and what we eat. Results from a new online survey1, conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Abbott, amongst 1,001 adults aged 50-75 years of age who were receiving care from a healthcare professional or were suffering from one or more of seven chronic conditions*, show that when they are unwell**, 40% of respondents cannot taste things as well as they normally can, with 82% of those who experienced taste changes when unwell (n=513) agreeing that changes in taste make it difficult to enjoy food and 77% agreeing that taste changes lead to a loss in appetite.‡‡‡
Dr Carrie Ruxton, a freelance dietitian and member of the expert panel involved in the film, said, “A number of factors can affect taste and appetite including age, disease, medicines and mood. This new educational resource considers why taste is important to clinicians and what we can do to help patients better understand and comply with oral nutritional supplements.”
Good nutrition is recognised by 98% of those surveyed as an important factor in aiding recovery from illness.1 However, amongst malnourished individuals, taste can become a barrier if patients are prescribed an oral nutritional supplement that they do not like. Dr Patricia Macnair, Specialty Doctor in Medicine for the Elderly at Milford Hospital, Surrey and member of the expert panel said, “Improving nutritional intake is an important target for many older patients and we often need to employ a variety of means to meet their needs. We know that scientific research supports the use of oral nutritional supplements as part of a broad approach but these will only be effective if they are taken as prescribed. Quite simply, if a person doesn't like a supplement they are unlikely to take it regularly. So helping them to find a nutritional supplement that they do like to take is a key factor in empowering them to improve their nutritional intake. Choice is vital to this process."
Carole Glencorse, Medical Director at Abbott’s nutrition business in the UK, said, “Malnutrition is a significant problem in the UK and taste plays an important role in encouraging patients to comply with nutritional therapies. We hope that this CPD module will prompt healthcare professionals to consider taste, its link to compliance to nutritional interventions and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.”
Siân O’Shea from the BDA said, “The BDA is delighted to endorse this educational resource from Abbott Nutrition. The ‘Power of Taste’ film provides an interesting review of the elements that influence taste and considers factors that the dietetic profession can use in a clinical setting to improve the patient experience.”
To watch the CPD accredited educational resource, entitled "The Power of Taste", please click here.
*Sample included adults who had had an overnight stay in hospital (last 2 years) or were currently receiving in-home care/treatment from a healthcare professional or were suffering from one or more of seven chronic conditions specified
**Unwell being defined as a time when respondents were prescribed medication or oral nutritional supplements by a healthcare professional and/or they had trouble eating their usual diet and/or lost weight as a result of being unwell.
‡Data includes those that coded ‘Very important’ and ‘Fairly important’ to these questions
‡‡Data includes those that coded ‘Much more likely to follow if I liked the taste’ and ‘Somewhat more likely to follow if I liked the taste’ to these questions
‡‡‡Data includes those that coded ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Tend to agree’ to these questions.
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References
1. Data on file. Abbott Laboratories Ltd., 2014 (Ipsos MORI survey).
2. BAPEN, 2009: http://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/reports/advisory_group_report.pdf Accessed 9th December 2014.
3. Ozcagli TG et al. Turk J Gastroenterol 2013;24(3):266-272.
4. Lad H et al. J Nutr Health Aging 2005;9(5):310-314.
Notes to Editors
· The survey was conducted by Ipsos MORI amongst online panelists between 7-8 August 2014: 1,001 adults aged 50-75 years from Great Britain who had had an overnight stay in hospital (last 2 years) or were currently receiving in-home care/treatment from a healthcare professional or were suffering from one or more of the following chronic conditions (diabetes, gastro intestinal conditions, heart condition, kidney condition, lung condition, liver condition, cancer). Further information is available on request.
· The expert panel involved in the ‘Power of Taste film includes:
o Dr Carrie Ruxton, freelance dietitian, Nutrition Communications
o Dr Patricia Macnair, Specialty Doctor in Medicine for the Elderly, Milford Hospital, Surrey
o Dr Leigh Gibson, Reader in Biopsychology and Director of the Clinical and Health Psychology Research Centre, University of Roehampton
o Dr Tracey Hollowood, Director of Sensory and Consumer Research, Sensory Dimensions
· Members of the expert panel are available for interview on request
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 69,000 people.
Visit Abbott at www.abbott.com and connect with us on Twitter at @AbbottNews.
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