Screening and Assessment

Question 1

What is nutrition screening?

Answer 1

Identification of patients with characteristics commonly associated with nutritional problems, and who may benefit from a comprehensive nutrition assessment and intervention

Nutrition screening is the first step in identifying patients who are at risk for nutrition problems or who have undetected malnutrition. It allows for prevention of nutrition-related problems when risks are identified and early intervention when problems are confirmed.

Question 2

What is nutrition assessment?

Answer 2

Defining nutritional status using medical, nutritional, and medication history, and physical exam, anthropometric data and laboratory results

The interpretation of information from dietary, laboratory, anthropometric and clinical investigations to determine the nutritional status of individuals/populations as influenced by the intake and utilisation of nutrients

Question 3

What are the desired characteristics of a nutrition screening tool?

Answer 3

• inexpensive
• non-invasive
• quick and simple
• relevant to all settings or a specific group
• valid and reliable

Question 4

What is convergent validity?

Answer 4

Does it agree with the assessment of nutritional status/markers of nutritional status (anthrop, biochem, nutritional intake)

Question 5

What is predictive validity?

Answer 5

Can it predict the occurrence of nutrition associated complications and therefore predict the outcome

Question 6

What is intra-rater reliability?

Answer 6

Can the same result be consistently achieved

Question 7

What is inter-rater reliability?

Answer 7

Can 2 assessors consistently agree

Question 8

What are 3 examples of screening tools?

Answer 8

1. MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool)
2. MNA-SF (Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form)
3. MST (Malnutrition Screening Tool)

Question 9

What does MUST assess?

Answer 9

assesses malnutrition based on current weight (BMI), unintentional weight loss in 3-6 months, and acute illness and minimal nutrition intake for 5+ days

Question 10

What does MNA-SF assess?

Answer 10

assesses malnutrition risk in elderly patients based on BMI or calf circumfrence, contains 6 questions

Question 11

What does MST assess?

Answer 11

assesses malnutrition based on unintentional weight loss and decreased appetite

Question 12

What are 3 examples of assessment tools?

Answer 12

1. MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment)
2. SGA
3. PG-SGA

Question 13

What does MNA assess?

Answer 13

Assesses 4 sections on anthropometry, general wellbeing, dietary and subjective

Takes ~20mins

Specific to older adults

Question 14

What are the pros & cons of MNA?

Answer 14

Pros - extensive validation, little training required, not confronting, short time
Cons - requires equipment, requires BMI calculation, some unable to respond to questions

Question 15

What does the SGA assess?

Answer 15

Combines clinical judgement with objective measures (medical history and physical exam)

Question 16

What are the pros and cons of SGA?

Answer 16

Pros - valid and reliable, low respondent burden, can be done at bedside, no delay in getting information
Cons - respondant bias, requires willing subject/carer, physical exam requires training/expertise

Question 17

What does the PG-SGA assess?

Answer 17

This tool has two sections-a medical history section that is completed by the patient, and a physical assessment section that is completed by nursing, medical, or dietetic staff.