Background: The majority of patients undergoing cardiac surgery (CS) are older, more vulnerable malnourished adults, which increases the risk of postoperative complications due to poor energy and protein intakes. The goal of this research study was to determine if a virtual nutrition intervention preoperative protein program (VIP) would be supported by CS patients and positively impact CS patient nutrition literacy and knowledge retention and protein intakes.
Methods: A convenience sample size of 20 participants undergoing non-urgent elective CS received the VIP intervention consisting of four 25-minute sessions provided preoperatively. Each session focused on an overarching CS protein theme that built upon the previous session. Feasibility was measured by participants completed patient satisfaction surveys at 1-month post-CS, and nutrition literacy questionnaires and 3-day food records at baseline, within 2 weeks before CS and 1-month post-CS. Health outcomes were measured by analyzing medical chart data on patient length of stay (LOS) until discharge post-CS.
Results: All participants reported taking part in the VIP intervention as beneficial and their nutrition literacy and knowledge increased as a result. All participants supported the intervention being delivered remotely preoperatively using a virtual platform. No participants reported regretting taking part in the VIP study or a preference for an alternate delivery platform. Participant 3-day protein intake mean score increased from 6.67 ±0.42 (Mean ± SD) protein servings at baseline to 9.33 ±0.57 protein servings before CS after receiving the VIP protein intervention. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the VIP intervention is supported by CS patients and that it can have a positive impact on patient nutrition literacy and knowledge retention and improve pre-surgery protein intakes.