Nutritional Assessment - August 2011

Nutrition Assessment - Evidence Update

August 2011

Welcome to the August Nutritional Assessment Bulletin produced by HEFT Library Services. This

bulletin is produced to support the VITAL for nurses core skills programme developed in the Trust. This

issue features articles published in the past four weeks.

Organisation

CINV in the UK: a prospective audit of patient

experience.

British Journal of Nursing, May; 20(10) S.29-31

This is a prospective audit of cancer patients to assess patient experience of Chemotherapy induced nausea and

vomiting. The proposal is that this audit will provide evidence of how NHS and private oncology teams manage

CINV within the UK. Available in fulltext at EBSCO Host

Effectiveness of multidisciplinary nutritional care -

patients with hip fractures

Clinical Nutrition. August; 30(4) p455-61

Effectiveness of multidisciplinary ntritional care on nutritional intake, nutritional status and quality of life in patients

with hip fractures; A controlled prospective cohort study.

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary intervention programme on nutritional

intake, nutritional status and quality of life in older patients treated for a hip fracture. After three months there

were fewer malnourished patients in the intervention group, and the decline in quality of life was lower than in

the control group.

Screening

Nutritional status, hospitalization and mortality among

patients with sickle cell anemia in Tanzania.

Haematologica. July; 96(7) p.948-53

The objective was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and whether poor nutritional status predicted

morbidity and mortality within an urban cohort of Tanzanian sickle cell anaemia patients.

Available in fulltext at Highwire Press

Recognition

Predictors for achieving protein and energy

requirements in undernourished hospital patients.

Clinical Nutrition. August; 30(4) p.484-9

This study aimed to investigate predictors for achieving protein and energy requirements on the fourth day

of admission in undernourished hospitalised patients.Predictors for achieving protein and energy intake were

identified as nausea, cancer, acute infections, BMI, age, chronic lung disease and tube feeding.

Intervention

Cost-effectiveness of a 3-month intervention with oral

nutritional supplements in disease-related malnutrition

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. June; 65(6) p.735-42

Cost-effectiveness of a 3-month intervention with oral nutritional supplements in disease-related malnutrition: a

randomised controlled pilot study.

This  study investigates  whether  supplementation  with  oral  nutritional  supplements  ONS  is  cost-effective to

increase quality of life in malnourished patients.

Early versus traditional postoperative feeding in

patients undergoing resectional gastrointestinal

surgery: a meta-analysis.

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. July; 35(4) p.473-487

This paper provides a meta-analysis of evidence evaluating surgical outcomes following nutritional provision

within 24 hours of gastrointestinal surgery compared with traditional postoperative management. The results

show that early postoperative nutrition is associated with significant reductions in total complications compared

with traditional postoperative feeding practices.

Effectiveness of oral nutritional supplementation for

older women after a fracture.

BMC Geriatrics. June 11(32)

Effectiveness of oral nutritional supplementation for older women after a fracture: rationale, design and study of

the feasibility of a randomized controlled study.

This pilot study looks at administration of oral supplements to older people with recent fractures in a hospital

setting. No firm conclusions were drawn.

Nutritional intervention for improving treatment

tolerance in cancer patients

Current Opinion in Oncology. July; 23(4) p.322-330

This is a study aiming to assess different nutritional interventions for improving treatment tolerance in patients

with malnutrition related to the cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Have No Impact on Serum Lactate

Levels After Major Gastric Cancer Surgery.

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. July; 35(4) p488-492

This study was undertaken to address the effect of postoperative administration of omega-3 fatty acids on cellular

hypoperfusion associated with major gastric surgery. No significant conclusions were drawn from the results.

Symptoms associated with dietary fiber

supplementation over time in individuals with fecal

incontinence.

Nursing Research. June; 60(3 Suppl) p.S58-67

There isn't much knowledge about adverse symptoms from fiber supplementation available. Patients with fecal

incontinence experience a variety of GI symptoms over a period of time. The symptom severity and emotional

upset appear to influence fiber tolerance. Supplements seem overall to be well tolerated.

Nursing Role

Dehydration: why is it still a problem?

Nursing Times. 2011; 107(22) p.12-5

Prevention strategies, including drinking aids, fluid intake monitoring and improved bedside care, are discussed

in this article. Reports from organisations such as the Care Quality Commission have identified many hospital

patients, particularly older people, are suffering from dehydration.The article examines factors that affect the

assessment and identification of dehydration, and its prevention. It offers strategies to help nurses to ensure

patients receive adequate hydration. Available in fulltext at ProQuest (Legacy Platform)

Knowledge, attitudes and practices in the provision of