Improved nutritional care policies and practices in hospitals is a potential outcome from new research being conducted at The University of Queensland.
Ekta Agarwal, a PhD student at the School of Human Movement Studies, was recently awarded the second runner-up in the Health Sciences Faculty final of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.
The UQ Three Minute Thesis final takes place on September 13, with interested members of the public welcome to attend.
Ms Agarwal’s research has produced the Australasian Nutrition Care Day Survey which enrolled more than 3100 patients from 56 hospitals around Australia and New Zealand. The survey examines the prevalence of malnutrition in hospital patients and compares health-related outcomes of malnourished patients with healthy patients.
“Survey results will provide an insight into the effect of malnutrition on hospital patients and related health care costs,” Ms Agarwal said.
“Participating hospitals will be able to use these findings to improve their nutritional care policies and practices, which will in turn help improve the health outcomes of their patients.”
Developed by UQ in 2008, the 3MT competition is a skills development activity that challenges research higher degree students to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes.
“I took part in the 3MT competition this year because I enjoy public speaking and saw it as a great opportunity to present my research to a broader audience,” Ms Agarwal said.
“The experience was a huge challenge and it forced me to focus on key messages from my study and communicate these in the most clear and compelling way possible.”
Ms Agarwal said she chose UQ for her PhD because of its international reputation for research excellence and research experts.
“My advisory team includes some of the best in the field of nutrition and dietetics; they are 100% dedicated to developing my knowledge and inspiring me throughout my PhD,” she said.
Ms Agarwal will continue to carry out her research over the next year and is supervised by Dr Liz Isenring.
Media: Caroline Day (07 3365 6764, caroline.day@uq.edu.au)
