After leaving the hospital, many older adults don’t know how much protein and calories they need to stay healthy and strong. Researchers in Norway tested whether a 6-minute video about nutrition could help. They gave the video to some older adults going home after surgery and compared them to others who didn’t get the video. While the video was easy to deliver and most people could watch it, the study found some challenges with getting enough people to participate. The results suggest videos could be a helpful tool, but researchers need to do a bigger study to prove it really works.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a short educational video about eating enough protein and calories could help older adults stay healthy after coming home from surgery
  • Who participated: 44 older adults (65 years and older) living at home in rural Norway who had just been discharged from surgical hospital departments. Half received the video, half did not.
  • Key finding: The video was successfully delivered and watched by most participants. However, the study had trouble recruiting enough people (got 3 per 2 weeks instead of the goal of 5) and keeping people in the study (68% stayed involved instead of the goal of 82%). The researchers were able to measure body changes and muscle strength, though some measurements needed adjustments.
  • What it means for you: Videos about nutrition appear to be a practical way to teach older adults about healthy eating after surgery. However, this was a small test run, and we need larger studies to know for sure if the videos actually help people eat better and stay stronger. If you’re an older adult recovering from surgery, talk to your doctor about nutrition needs.

The Research Details

This was a feasibility study, which is like a practice run before doing a bigger experiment. Researchers wanted to test whether they could actually carry out a full study about nutrition videos. They recruited 44 older adults from three surgical departments in a hospital in northern Norway between May 2022 and January 2023. Half the participants (24 people) were randomly assigned to watch a 6-minute video about eating protein and calories to prevent malnutrition. The other half (20 people) didn’t receive any special intervention and served as the comparison group.

The researchers tracked several things to see if the study could work: Could they recruit enough people? Would people stay in the study? Could people access and watch the video? Could they measure things like body weight, muscle size, and hand grip strength? They set specific goals for each of these: recruiting 5 people every 2 weeks, keeping 82% of people in the study, and having 90% of people able to access the video.

This type of study is important because it helps researchers figure out what problems might happen in a bigger study before they invest lots of time and money. It’s like testing a recipe on a small scale before cooking for a big party.

Feasibility studies are crucial because they help researchers understand real-world challenges before conducting expensive, large-scale research. By testing recruitment methods, technology access, and data collection in a smaller group, researchers can identify and fix problems early. This study was particularly important because it tested whether older adults in rural areas could access and use video technology, which isn’t always guaranteed. Understanding these practical challenges helps ensure that future nutrition education programs will actually reach the people who need them most.

This study has several strengths: it used random assignment (like flipping a coin) to decide who got the video, which reduces bias; it tracked people for seven months; it measured multiple aspects of nutrition and muscle health; and it was conducted in a real-world setting with actual hospital patients. However, it’s a small study with only 44 people, which limits how much we can generalize the findings. The study didn’t meet all its recruitment goals, which suggests that getting older adults to participate in nutrition studies can be challenging. The retention rate of 68% was lower than hoped, meaning some people dropped out. These are important limitations to consider when interpreting the results.

What the Results Show

The researchers successfully delivered the 6-minute nutrition education video to the intervention group. Most participants were able to access and watch the video, suggesting that this method of teaching is technically feasible for older adults. The study was able to collect measurements of body composition (like weight and muscle size) and muscle strength from most participants, though some measurements needed to be adjusted slightly to work better in practice.

However, the study faced recruitment challenges. The researchers wanted to enroll 5 people every 2 weeks over 28 weeks, but they only managed to recruit an average of 3 people every 2 weeks. This means they fell short of their recruitment goal. Additionally, not all participants stayed in the study until the end. Overall, 68% of participants completed the study (71% in the video group and 65% in the control group), which was lower than the target of 82%.

The good news is that no participants experienced any harmful effects from being in the study. The video itself was well-tolerated, and the measurements taken (like measuring arm muscle and grip strength) were feasible to collect. This suggests that the basic approach of using videos to teach nutrition is safe and practical.

The study found that researchers could successfully measure several indicators of nutritional status and muscle health, including body mass index (a measure of weight relative to height), arm circumference, skin fold thickness (which indicates fat), muscle circumference, and hand grip strength. These measurements are important because they help determine if someone is malnourished or losing muscle mass, which is common in older adults after surgery. The fact that these measurements could be collected suggests that future studies can reliably track whether nutrition education actually improves these health markers.

This study builds on previous research showing that older adults often don’t understand their nutritional needs after hospitalization. Earlier studies have suggested that education can improve nutrition knowledge, but few have tested video-based education in older adults returning home from surgery. This study is one of the first to examine whether this approach is practical in a real-world setting. The findings align with other research suggesting that technology-based health education can be accessible to older adults, though recruitment and retention remain challenges across many health studies.

This was a small study with only 44 participants, so the results may not apply to all older adults, especially those in urban areas or different countries. The study didn’t actually measure whether the video improved nutrition or health outcomes—it only tested whether the study could be done. The recruitment rate fell short of goals, which suggests that finding enough older adults willing to participate might be difficult in a larger study. Some people dropped out before the study ended, which could affect results. The study was conducted in rural Norway, so results might be different in other regions with different healthcare systems or technology access. Finally, because this was a feasibility study, we can’t yet say whether the video actually helps people eat better or stay healthier—we’d need a larger study to answer that question.

The Bottom Line

Based on this feasibility study, nutrition education videos appear to be a promising tool for teaching older adults about healthy eating after surgery (moderate confidence level). However, we cannot yet recommend that people use these videos as a primary treatment for malnutrition because the study didn’t measure actual health improvements. Before implementing videos widely, researchers should conduct a larger study to prove the videos actually help people eat better and maintain muscle strength. If you’re an older adult recovering from surgery, discuss your specific nutritional needs with your doctor or a registered dietitian rather than relying solely on educational videos.

This research is most relevant to: older adults (65+) recovering from surgery who are at risk for malnutrition; healthcare providers working with post-surgical older patients; hospital discharge planners; and researchers designing nutrition education programs. People living in rural areas where in-person nutrition counseling may be limited could particularly benefit from video-based education. However, this study is less relevant to younger adults, people with severe cognitive impairment who might struggle to follow video instructions, or those without access to video technology.

This study didn’t measure how quickly people might see benefits from the video. Based on general nutrition science, improvements in eating habits might be noticed within 2-4 weeks, but meaningful changes in muscle strength and body composition typically take 8-12 weeks or longer. Older adults recovering from surgery should expect a gradual process of rebuilding strength and nutritional status over several months.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily protein intake (grams per day) and calories consumed, along with weekly measurements of hand grip strength using a simple home grip strength meter. Record these weekly to see if nutrition education correlates with improved muscle strength over 8-12 weeks.
  • Users could set a daily reminder to watch short nutrition education videos (2-3 minutes) and then log one protein-rich meal or snack they consumed that day. This combines education with immediate behavioral action and creates a trackable habit.
  • Implement a 12-week tracking program where users log weekly: (1) number of protein servings consumed daily, (2) total daily calories, (3) hand grip strength measurement, and (4) subjective energy levels. Create visual charts showing trends over time to maintain motivation and demonstrate progress.

This study is a feasibility test, not a proof that nutrition videos work. The research shows that videos can be delivered to older adults, but does not prove they improve health outcomes. Before making changes to your diet or nutrition plan, especially if you’re recovering from surgery or have health conditions, consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. Individual nutritional needs vary based on age, health status, medications, and other factors that only a healthcare provider can assess.