P177 - IDENTIFYING MALNUTRITION IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NURSE-LED SCREENINGS IN REFERRING AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS

P177

IDENTIFYING MALNUTRITION IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NURSE-LED SCREENINGS IN REFERRING AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS

M. Kelsekar ¹, M. Joumaa^2,*, H. Musharrafieh ², J. Elhaout ³

¹College of Medicine , Mohammed Bin Rashid University , ²dietary , ³Internal Medicine , mediclinic MIddle east , Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Rationale: At Mediclinic Hospitals, the MCME nutritional risk screening tool is used to detect malnutrition, a score of ≥2 is designed to trigger a mandatory referral to a dietician. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the nurse-lead screening tool in identifying patients requiring dietetic referral and to assess the extent of missed referrals despite positive screening results. It also explored whether the completeness of form documentation, age, or clinical specialty.

Methods: A qualitative audit was conducted on 446 screening forms completed across various specialties for patients aged ≥18 years. Each form was reviewed for completeness across four criteria: anthropometrics, admitting diagnosis, nutritional support, and other risk factors. The number of missed referrals was recorded when patients met the referral threshold.

Results: Most departments showed 70–100% form completion rates. However, missed referrals occurred even when forms were correctly completed. Internal Medicine and General Surgery had good documentation rates but still recorded missed referrals. Intensive Care and Interventional Cardiology had both lower form accuracy and higher missed referrals, likely due to patient acuity. The 30–49 age group had the highest missed referral rate despite high completion levels.

Conclusion: A clear gap between exists between identifying nutritional risk and initiating referrals. Accurate screening must be paired with improved staff training, automated referral systems, and stronger interdisciplinary communication to ensure timely dietetic intervention.

References: Visser, J. et al.,Prevalence and related assessment practices of adult hospital malnutrition in Africa: A scoping review, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, Volume 63 (Oct 2024), 121 – 132

Disclosure of Interest: None declared