A Simple Nutrition Screening Tool for Hemodialysis Nurses

Abstract

The tool was more sensitive and specific than the NST previously reported by the same investigators. The tool is particularly specific in that it screens those patients not requiring dietitian intervention. The use of this tool may benefit HD units that do not have on-site or regular dietetic support to prioritize patients needing dietitian intervention.

Nutrition screening by nurses in dialysis

“…Previous research using the four‐item satellite dialysis nutrition screening tool has identified its relatively high sensitivity and specificity when compared with the gold standard subjective global assessment (Bennett et al . ). Using an RCT method, this study has supported the hypothesis that more patients will be referred using this screening tool.…”

“…The tool that we used has been previously validated in an Australian haemodialysis population (n = 112) and exhibited a sensitivity of 0Á84 (range, 0Á71-0Á94; p < 0.05) and a specificity of 0Á9 (range, 0Á82-0Á98; p < 0.05) (Bennett et al 2006). This tool was chosen because of its simplicity and because it is the only screening tool that we are aware of that has been validated in the satellite haemodialysis population.…”

“…However, none of these have specifically targeted the needs of those patients in satellite dialysis centres (as opposed to the acute setting) where there are limited dietetic resources (Bennett et al . ). Generic screening instruments will pick up clinical signs and symptoms of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) but not necessarily the signs and symptoms of nutritional decline in satellite dialysis patients, which could be effectively managed with dietary advice and intervention.…”

“…Validation against the Malnutrition and Inflammation Score (Kalantar-Zadeh et al 2001) in the acute hospital dialysis population by Yamada et al (2008) identified the GNRI as the most accurate and simplest of these nurse-completed nutritional screening tools. However, none of these have specifically targeted the needs of those patients in satellite dialysis centres (as opposed to the acute setting) where there are limited dietetic resources (Bennett et al 2006). Generic screening instruments will pick up clinical signs and symptoms of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) but not necessarily the signs and symptoms of nutritional decline in satellite dialysis patients, which could be effectively managed with dietary advice and intervention.…”

The Impact of Nurse‐led Education on Haemodialysis Patients' Phosphate Binder Medication Adherence

“…In this study, we found no effect of a combined education and incentives programme on participant serum phosphate which is consistent with a recent education and incentivisation intervention (Chow & Dalton ). Dietician‐led education programmes have demonstrated decreased phosphate levels (de Brito Ashurst & Dobbie ; ); however, not all dialysis centres have access to renal‐specific dieticians, particularly centres in developing countries (). Nephrologist‐led education interventions have also been successful in reducing phosphate levels ().…”