Ethics approval was obtained by both the University of Wollongong and the former Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service (SESIAHS).
Written consent was obtained from participating patients and tacit consent from staff completing a questionnaire.
Recruitment of patients was organised with the Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) of each ward on the day of the visit.
Patients were excluded from the study if they were deemed ‘too sick to participate’ by the NUM, if they were in isolation, had dementia, were non-English speaking or unable to feed themselves.
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Palliative Care, Oncology, Maternity and the Childrens’ Ward were also excluded from the study.