Improving nutritional care in residential aged care facilities (RACFs): a scoping review of nutrition education for nursing staff

Background: The ageing population is growing rapidly, posing unique challenges in residential aged care facilities, especially regarding malnutrition among residents. Nutrition education for nursing staff is crucial for improving the quality of nutritional care and promoting healthy ageing. Objective: This scoping review aims to explore the current state of nutrition education interventions for nursing staff in residential aged care facilities and evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing resident care. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the updated Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological framework for scoping reviews, including studies published from January 2014 to July 2024. The review focused on interventions that aimed to improve nutritional knowledge, skills, and practices among nursing staff working in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs), excluding studies unrelated to nutrition education, or involving non-nursing personnel. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria, revealing a combination of face-to-face and online educational interventions. The findings indicate significant improvements in the nutritional knowledge and practices of nursing staff, which correlates with better food intake and nutritional status among residents. However, the effectiveness varied, with some studies reporting minimal changes in specific health metrics. Conclusion: The review highlights the potential of both face-to-face and online nutrition education interventions in enhancing the skills and practices of nursing staff. Although the results are mixed, they collectively emphasize the need for well-structured, sustained educational efforts that can adapt to the diverse needs of nursing staff and residents. Future research should focus on optimizing these interventions to consistently improve nutritional care in aged care settings.