Table 3 Fidelity with the Protected Mealtimes intervention

Number of positive interruptions

805

1016

Length of positive interruptions (seconds)(median, IQR)^a

18 (5–50)

20 (8–52)

Reason for positive interruptions; n (%)

 Mealtime assistance

167 (20.7)

227 (22.3)

 Encouragement with eating

180 (22.4)

268 (26.4)

 Re-positioning

124 (15.4)

183 (18.0)

 Assistance with opening food packaging

111 (13.8)

176 (17.3)

 Other reason

219 (27.2)

158 (15.6)

 No reason recorded

4 (0.5)

4 (0.4)

Number of negative interruptions

579

477

Length of negative interruptions (seconds)(median, IQR)

50 (23–132)

54 (23–140)

 Medications

235 (40.6)

206 (43.2)

 Ward round

12 (2.1)

1 (0.2)

 Patient observations (e.g. temperature, BP)

42 (7.3)

39 (8.2)

 Non-essential treatment

68 (11.7)

36 (7.5)

 Interview

64 (11.0)

32 (6.7)

 Support staff role (e.g. menu completion)

33 (5.7)

26 (5.4)

 Telephone call

7 (1.2)

17 (3.6)

 Other

115 (19.9)

120 (25.2)

 Missing

3 (0.5)

0

Non-nurses providing mealtime assistance (mean per meal)

1.3

2.9

Nurses providing mealtime assistance (mean per meal)

0.9

1.3

Patient required toilet during meals (n)

7

15

Observation of patient hand washing prior to food consumption (where hands could be washed) n (%)

73 (11.8)

63 (9.9)

Observation of patient in an upright position to eat meal; n (%)

591 (95.9)

593 (94.4)

Ability to reach food within 10 minutes of meal commencement; n (%)

581 (93.4)

588 (92.5)

Functional Independence Measure completed (of unique participants) n (%)

81 (98.8)

104 (99.0)

Meal sign displayed (during meals observed) n (%)

13 (48.1)

31 (93.9)

Ward entry doors closed (during meals observed) n (%)

9 (33.3)

23 (69.7)

Staff providing mealtime assistance being called to the telephone (n)

2

2

Dining room in use

Not measured

No change

Dining room clean and set up for dining

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