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Pilot program for training multidisciplinary teams to improve individualized and comprehensive nutritional care for patients at all levels of healthcare

 

BASIC DATA OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT

  • PROJECT LEADER: Assist. Prof. Nada Rotovnik Kozjek, MD, PhD

  • DURATION: 1. 1 .2026—31.12. 2028

  • CO-FINANCING: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia

 

SHORT SUMMARY:

The proposed programme aims to systematically strengthen clinical nutrition as a professional discipline in Slovenia and to support individualised, continuous and high-quality nutrition care for patients across all levels of health care. It is based on the recognition that, without appropriately trained health professionals, it is not possible to ensure effective nutritional support, evidence-based counselling and comprehensive care for chronic patients and vulnerable groups, nor to prevent malnutrition, obesity and functional decline.

The programme is led by the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Intestinal Failure, which serves as a reference centre for the development and transfer of knowledge. The Department brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts, and patients are managed in both outpatient and inpatient settings, enabling education and hands-on practical training. As an implementation foundation, the programme builds on projects already carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Health: recommendations for nutrition care in hospitals and nursing homes (2008), an assessment of nutritional status (2011–2012), clinical testing of the nutrition care process in a hospital setting (2017–2019), training to implement the clinical pathway for nutrition support (2020–2022), and training to acquire specialised knowledge in clinical nutrition (2023–2025).

The programme directly supports the objectives of the Resolution on the National Programme on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health 2015–2025: Objective 2.3 (reducing the proportion of malnourished and functionally less capable older adults and patients), Objective 5.1.4 (nutrition in hospitals and social care institutions), and Objective 5.8.2.3 (improving the nutritional status of the adult population, particularly older adults). The Resolution also emphasises strengthening primary health care, family medicine and reference outpatient clinics, where integrating nutrition care is essential for long-term health outcomes.

In Slovenia, there is an imbalance between the development of preventive public health nutrition activities and clinical nutrition; the latter remains fragmented and non-standardised, often dependent on local initiatives. The programme seeks to address this through a coordinated and structured approach that enables comparable and accessible nutrition care for patients regardless of region, institution or diagnosis, thereby contributing to the reduction of health inequalities.

 

Key programme objectives are to:

  • develop a standardised protocol for the nutrition care of patients at nutritional risk, adapted to the Slovenian health care system;

  • develop educational materials and deliver a pilot training programme for multidisciplinary teams across all levels of health care (including practical components);

  • conduct an evaluation of the training (knowledge assessment and participant satisfaction) as a basis for further system-wide implementation and standardisation of care.

The programme’s content focuses on early identification of sarcopenia, malnutrition and frailty, and the associated functional decline, and on strengthening team-based care (physicians, clinical dietitians, nurses, physiotherapists, kinesiologists and clinical pharmacists). The expected contribution of the programme lies primarily in enhancing the professional competence of health professionals, advancing a multidisciplinary approach, improving the quality of nutrition care, and strengthening networking among health care institutions and experts in the field of clinical nutrition.

The programme is co-financed by the Ministry of Health and forms part of the “Dober tek Slovenija za več gibanja in bolj zdravo prehrano”