Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
BACKGROUND: In 2014, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition recommended indicators to identify malnutrition in children aged 1 month to 18 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate current practices and the effectiveness of the consensus statement-recommended pediatric malnutrition indicators. METHODS: A cross-sectional electronic survey link was posted in the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (subscribers = 3160) and Clinical Nutrition Management Practice Group's Pediatric Subunit (subscribers = 177) community discussion boards. Additionally, flyers with the survey link were distributed to registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) currently working in pediatrics at the 2018 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo. Frequencies described participant characteristics, awareness of indicators, and use of indicators. Researchers used the Fisher exact test to determine associations between categorical variables. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-one surveys were included in data analysis. A majority of RDNs (88.6%) reported they knew the indicators existed and considered themselves knowledgeable about the indicators. Weight loss was the most frequently used indicator, with 224 RDNs (80%) reporting use as often or always. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) was the least used indicator with only 68 RDNs (25%) using it often or always. Most RDNs (71.5%) reported that their facility used International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision codes to document malnutrition. CONCLUSION: RDNs working with pediatric populations consistently use the recommended malnutrition indicators; however, further education is needed on the appropriate use of MUAC and length/height per age as malnutrition indicators.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Bellini et al. (2020) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: