Smart Phone Application for Enteral Nutrition

Background: Resident physicians are frequently uncomfortable ordering enteral nutrition (EN) and are unaware of the variety of formulas and supplements available for different disease processes. Many depend on a clinical dietitian to assist with recommending EN formulas and patient energy requirements which may not be readily available upon patient admission. This creates a barrier to early initiation of EN and non-compliance with Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition clinical guidelines. Objective: Internal medicine resident physicians were provided an ipod with the EN application to assist them in choosing EN formulas for patients during their ICU rotation. The primary outcome was improved initiation of EN within 24 hours of admission. Secondary outcomes include, time to initiate EN, goal calories reached. Design: This study is a retrospective chart review to evaluate the impact of a smart phone/device application (EN application) to assist resident physicians when ordering EN. The study is a single center trial conducted at an academic teaching facility. All patient data was obtained by a retrospective chart review of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at The University of Oklahoma Medical Center.

Inclusion criteria

• Admitted to the ICU
• Require Mechanical Ventilation
• Physician plans to order enteral nutrition for the patient

Exclusion criteria

• Death likely within 24 hours
• Needing parenteral nutrition
• Cannot tolerate enteral nutrition for any reason