About MyFood
In a PhD project, we developed, validated and studied MyFood - a digital decision support system to prevent and treat disease-related malnutrition. The MyFood system consists of an app for use among patients and a website for use among nurses and health care professionals. In MyFood the patient or a nurse record food intake and nutrition-related symptoms. MyFood calculates automatically the patients' needs for energy, protein, and liquids and compares the intake with the individual patient's requirements. The nurse receives a report including tailored recommendations for nutritional treatment and a draft for an individualized nutritional care plan.
The MyFood system are at the moment used in two research projects at the department of nutrition; GAIN and NUTREAT.
The MyFood system has been further developed into a innovation project, and a version of the system is commercialised see FoodCapture AS.
Objectives
We aim to deliver and evaluate MyFood for different actors in the healthcare sector for the benefit of patients and the society.
Background
Disease-related malnutrition is a challenge in the healthcare system. Approximately 30% of patients are malnourished or at malnutrition risk. Malnutrition leads to increased morbidity and mortality rates among the patients, a longer length of hospital stay, higher readmission rates, and increased healthcare costs. Despite national guidelines and the incorporation of disease-related malnutrition in the national patient safety program, several barriers for good nutritional care and treatment exist. The nurses experience a lack of knowledge, competence, and tools to follow-up this large group of patients.
Financing
The 3-year PhD project which included the development, evaluation and testing of MyFood was mainly funded by the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority and the Throne Holst Foundation at the University of Oslo.
The innovation work were supported by SPARK Norway, UiO and the Research Council of Norway.
Cooperation
The development and evaluation project was a collaboration project between the National Advisory Unit on Disease-Related Undernutrition at Oslo University Hospital, the Department of Nutrition at the University of Oslo, and the University Center for Information Technology.
The MyFood innovation project was a collaboration between the Department of Nutrition at the University of Oslo, the University Center for Information Technology and Inven2.