Effect of family style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents: cluster randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of family style mealtimes on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents without dementia. DESIGN Cluster randomised trial. SETTING Five Dutch nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS 178 residents (mean age 77 years). Two wards in each home were randomised to intervention (95 participants) or control groups (83). INTERVENTION During six months the intervention group took their meals family style and the control group received the usual individual pre-plated service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Quality of life (perceived safety; autonomy; and sensory, physical, and psychosocial functioning), gross and fine motor function, and body weight. RESULTS The difference in change between the groups was significant for overall quality of life (6.1 units, 95% confidence interval 2.1 to 10.3), fine motor function (1.8 units, 0.6 to 3.0), and body weight (1.5 kg, 0.6 to 2.4). CONCLUSION Family style mealtimes maintain quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents without dementia. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical trials NCT00114582.