Learning you are “at risk”: seniors’ experiences of nutrition risk screening

Nutrition risk screening can help identify community-dwelling older adults who may benefit from nutrition education and interventions
to improve food intake. Research has shown, however, that older adults who are found “at risk” through nutrition screening
commonly do not see themselves at risk, and many do not follow through with accessing recommended nutrition services. Thus,
the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine older adults’ experiences of learning they were at risk through nutrition
screening and to identify what influenced their perspectives and responses to their screening results. Face-to-face interviews
were conducted with 22 older adults who had screened at risk (SCREEN II^© scores < 54) through a nutrition screening process conducted by mail. Participants received their screening results in a
personalized letter before the interview, along with some recommendations to help improve food intake and decrease their nutrition
risk. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes. When participants reflected about receiving their screening results,
some described feeling surprised or even upset by the message that they were at increased risk, whereas others felt unconcerned
or reacted with heightened attentiveness to their nutrition. They also began to rationalize their screening score and found
ways to explain away their risk. The message that they were at increased risk was poorly understood and not well received
because it contradicted their perspective: they felt they were doing the right things, they saw room for improvement rather
than seeing themselves at risk, and they tended to make comparisons that helped support the view that they were not truly
at risk. Further, even though participants saw room for improvement, they described barriers to change and commonly felt that
the recommendations were more applicable for others than themselves. Strategies to improve communication of nutrition screening
results and recommendations are discussed to help seniors better understand their risk and take steps to improve their nutrition.