collection required, the sample size was small and confirmation of our findings in a larger sample is warranted. It is possible that variability may have occurred with respect to mealserving sizes and the availability of urine output, which could explain why these confounders were not associated with weight fluctuation in our sample. Future studies could involve weighing patient trays before and after consumption to increase the accuracy of intake weights, as well as standardising the clothes worn each day and inservices with nurses on data collection days to ensure all urine output is weighed. Furthermore, the study’s inclusion criteria could have resulted in participant selectionbias; however, our sample was confirmed as being representative of the entire GARU population.
The study of water inadequacy in clinical care settings is not simple. In healthcare settings, it would not be ethical to assess weight change after imposing dehydration.
Although apparently deceptively simple, establishing the critical percentage of ‘short-term’ weight change will identify poor hydration regardless of whether hyper-, hypo- or isotonic dehydration exists (Mentes, 2000; Emmett, 2005). Establishing weight increases upon the rehydration of those who are clinically assessed as dehydrated could address the question of the percentage of weight change associated with poor hydration in clinical care settings, although not the time frame constituting‘short-term’. Emmett, 2005). Establishing weight increases upon the rehydration of those who are clinically assessed as dehydrated could address the question of the percentage of weight change associated with poor hydration in clinical care settings, although not the time frame constituting ‘short-term’.
In conclusion, the findings of the present pilot study suggest that using short-term weight fluctuations of up to 3% as a dehydration indicator, as occurs in other research settings, does not appear to hold true in the acute care setting. Amongst older hospitalised participants who are clinically-assessed as well-hydrated, almost half of the sample experienced short-term weight fluctuations of 2–3%. Our findings also suggest that measuring weight at the same time of day may be most accurate, yet this is also challenging in a clinical setting. Given that dehydration is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and may be more prevalent amongst older people who are admitted to hospital than is generally appreciated, rapid and inexpensive indicators of dehydration validated in older hospitalised people are required.
Acknowledgments The generous co-operation of all GARU staff in enabling the completion of this study is appreciated. Conflicts of interest, sources of funding and authorship The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. No funding is declared. AV and LY were involved in all aspects of the study,including the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the manuscript. MP and JS were involved in the study design, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the manuscript. LD and KC were involved in data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing the manuscript. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version submitted for publication. Conflicts of interest, sources of funding and authorship The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. No funding is declared.AV and LY were involved in all aspects of the study, including the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the man- uscript. MP and JS were involved in the study design, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the manuscript. LD and KC were involved in data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing the
collection required, the sample size was small and confirmation of our findings in a larger sample is warranted. It is possible that variability may have occurred with respect to mealserving sizes and the availability of urine output, which could explain why these confounders were not associated with weight fluctuation in our sample. Future studies could involve weighing patient trays before and after consumption to increase the accuracy of intake weights, as well as standardising the clothes worn each day and inservices with nurses on data collection days to ensure all urine output is weighed. Furthermore, the study’s inclusion criteria could have resulted in participant selectionbias; however, our sample was confirmed as being representative of the entire GARU population.
The study of water inadequacy in clinical care settings is not simple. In healthcare settings, it would not be ethical to assess weight change after imposing dehydration.
Although apparently deceptively simple, establishing the critical percentage of ‘short-term’ weight change will identify poor hydration regardless of whether hyper-, hypo- or isotonic dehydration exists (Mentes, 2000; Emmett, 2005). Establishing weight increases upon the rehydration of those who are clinically assessed as dehydrated could address the question of the percentage of weight change associated with poor hydration in clinical care settings, although not the time frame constituting‘short-term’. Emmett, 2005). Establishing weight increases upon the rehydration of those who are clinically assessed as dehydrated could address the question of the percentage of weight change associated with poor hydration in clinical care settings, although not the time frame constituting ‘short-term’.
In conclusion, the findings of the present pilot study suggest that using short-term weight fluctuations of up to 3% as a dehydration indicator, as occurs in other research settings, does not appear to hold true in the acute care setting. Amongst older hospitalised participants who are clinically-assessed as well-hydrated, almost half of the sample experienced short-term weight fluctuations of 2–3%. Our findings also suggest that measuring weight at the same time of day may be most accurate, yet this is also challenging in a clinical setting. Given that dehydration is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and may be more prevalent amongst older people who are admitted to hospital than is generally appreciated, rapid and inexpensive indicators of dehydration validated in older hospitalised people are required.
Acknowledgments The generous co-operation of all GARU staff in enabling the completion of this study is appreciated. Conflicts of interest, sources of funding and authorship The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. No funding is declared. AV and LY were involved in all aspects of the study,including the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the manuscript. MP and JS were involved in the study design, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the manuscript. LD and KC were involved in data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing the manuscript. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version submitted for publication. Conflicts of interest, sources of funding and authorship The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. No funding is declared.AV and LY were involved in all aspects of the study, including the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the man- uscript. MP and JS were involved in the study design, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing of the manuscript. LD and KC were involved in data collection, analysis and interpretation, and the writing and editing the
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
![](//thimg.ilovetranslation.com/pic/loading_3.gif?v=b9814dd30c1d7c59_8619)