OC-076 Assessing knowledge of recognition and treatment of malnutrition among healthcare professionals

Abstract

Results Eight-four (63%) of the 133 were categorised, using the RFH-GA, as being moderately or severely malnourished. In contrast the MUST tool identified only 45 (34%) patients as being at nutritional risk. Thus the sensitivity and specificity of MUST for determining nutritional risk were 34% (95% CI 20 to 51) and 94% (95% CI 86 to 97); respectively; the k value was 0.19 demonstrating a poor level of agreement. The sensitivity and specificity of MUST improved when the patients with fluid retention were excluded from the analysis, 100% (95% CI 46 to 100) and 91% (74e98); respectively. The performance of the MUST also improved as the accurate dry body weight was better calculated but still did not reach 100% sensitivity indicating body weight alone is not a good marker of nutritional status in this patient population.The performance of the MUST utilising alternative weight adjustments in patients with fluid retention Conclusion The performance characteristics of the MUST tool in this setting are poor. This tool, can not be recommended for screening patients with chronic liver disease for nutritional risk.

The effect of nutrition training for health care staff on learner and patient outcomes in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Malnourished individuals experience longer hospital stays (1,2) and are more likely to be institutionalized (3)(4)(5), and as a result, the costs associated with malnutrition have been estimated as £14 billion, V120 billion, and $432 billion each year in the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States, respectively. Although the need to improve nutritional care has long been recognized and clinical guidance for the detection and management of malnutrition exists (6), nutritional care is often inadequate (7,8).…”

“…Deficits in nutritional knowledge have been identified in hospital (4) and home care staff (5), and internationally, nutrition training for health care professionals (HCPs) and managers has been prioritized as a means of addressing malnutrition and potentially making significant cost savings across health care settings (9). Although nutrition training was a key component of the successful Dutch multidisciplinary malnutrition strategy (10) and was integral to improving nutritional care in US health care settings (9), it remains unclear if staff training in nutrition is an effective use of limited health care resources.…”