Insights towards formation of management framework for persons with age-related appetite loss: a qualitative analysis of interviews with healthcare professionals

The aim of this study was to gather insights from healthcare professionals regarding managing loss of appetite in the geriatric population. The study identified five key themes, revealing that healthcare professionals rely on diverse diagnostic and management strategies while emphasizing the critical need for coordinated interdisciplinary teamwork and increased awareness among staff, patients, and caregivers. Our findings highlight that clinical approaches are often shaped by the hospital environment and the personal experiences of healthcare providers. Effective management of appetite loss in older adults requires the development of systemic, interdisciplinary protocols that integrate diverse clinical strategies with increased awareness among healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the general public. Loss of appetite is frequent in older patients. However, currently there are no internationally recognised guidelines for management of affected patients. Owing to its multifactorial pathophysiology, treatment should involve wide range of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in a team. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to gather insights concerning appetite loss management from medical professionals working with older adults. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 medical professionals, transcribed them verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis approach. We identified five main themes that included diagnostic challenges in patients’ identification and assessment, therapeutic approach to appetite disturbances, involvement of caregivers and healthcare professionals, the interplay between appetite loss and hospital setting, and narratives on appetite. Regardless of their profession, the participants shared a wide variety of diagnostic and management strategies to address appetite loss. They emphasised the importance of performing treatment within a coordinated interdisciplinary team and the need to raise awareness levels among HCPs, caregivers and the patients. For some HCPs, their personal experiences with appetite loss were an important source of insight. There is a pressing need to implement standardised approaches, that would orchestrate the macro, mezo and micro level actions to address the issue of appetite loss in older patients. Our results, in the context of earlier and ongoing studies, should inform future systemic approaches to the management of appetite loss in older patients across different clinical settings.