A Cross-Sectional Study of Factors Associated With Hospital Meal Choice in Medical Facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam

Although hospital food services are an important component of nutrition management for hospitalized patients, most hospitalized patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) do not take hospital meals. This exploratory analysis aimed to determine the factors associated with the selective intake of hospital meals by hospitalized patients in Hanoi, Vietnam. ​Methods: This cross-sectional study collected personal attribute data from a survey of inpatient nutritional status at six hospitals in Hanoi conducted between 2018 and 2019, and hospital attribute data collected in 2022. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between individual variables and hospital meal intake; the hospital ID dummy variable was included in the model to obtain a coefficient adjusted for individual-level variables for each hospital. The associations between the coefficients and hospital-level characteristics were determined graphically because the limited number of hospitals did not allow us to statistically analyze them. ​Results: Of the 748 participants analyzed, 194 (25.9%) consumed hospital meals. A multivariable logistic regression analysis with hospital meal intake as the dependent variable and individual-level variables as the independent variables revealed that dietary changes before admission and disease type were associated with hospital meal intake. However, when introducing the hospital ID dummies, only the hospital dummy showed a significant association; individual-level factors did not show associations. The associations between hospital dummy coefficients and hospital characteristics were unclear. ​Conclusions: There were significant inter-hospital differences in the intake of hospital meals. Further research is needed on the factors influencing hospital meal intake.