ONC: Screening Adult Oncology Patients for Malnutrition Risk (2013)

ONC: Screening Adult Oncology Patients for Malnutrition Risk (2013)

Timely screening for nutrition impact symptoms and identification of malnutrition can facilitate referral for nutrition management and lead to improved outcomes.1 Screening tools should be quick, easy to use, valid and reliable for the patient population or setting. Screening and re-screening should occur within an appropriate time-frame for the setting.2
 

The screening tool should be a valid identifier of malnutrition risk for adult oncology patients who may benefit from nutrition assessment and intervention by a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). This tool should be able to detect a measurable adverse effect on body composition, function or clinical outcome.3
 

Screening and assessment in the oncology population has been shown to improve outcomes in oncology patients. Nutrition intervention enables these patients to complete treatment regimens intended to give the best control of disease with fewer treatment interruptions.4,5,6,7
 

Literature evaluated by the Oncology Work Group identified the following tools as effective in identifying nutrition risk in the oncology population in ambulatory and acute care settings:

  • Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST)
  • MSTC
  • MUST.

Click this link for screening tools found to be effective in identifying patients at risk.


References

  1. Kruizenga HM, Van Tulder MW, Seidell JC, Thijs A, Ader HJ, Van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren MA. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of early screening and treatment of malnourished patients. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Nov; 82 (5): 1,082-1,089. PMID: 16280442.
  2. Skipper A, Ferguson M, Thompson K, Castellanos VH, Porcari J. Nutrition screening tools: an analysis of the evidence. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2012 May; 36 (3): 292-298. Epub 2011 Nov 1.
  3. Stratton RJ, Hackston A, Longmore D, et al. Malnutrition in hospital outpatients and inpatients: Prevalence, concurrent validity and ease of use of the ‘malnutrition universal screening tool’ (‘MUST’) for adults. Br J Nutr. 2004; 92(5): 799-808.
  4. Ravasco P, Monteiro-Grillo I, Vidal PM, Camilo ME. Dietary counseling improves patient outcomes: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Mar 1; 23 (7): 1,431-1,438. Epub 2005 Jan 31.
  5. Ravasco P, Monteiro-Grillo I, Marques Vidal P, Camilo ME. Impact of nutrition on outcome: a prospective randomized controlled trial in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Head Neck. 2005 Aug; 27 (8): 659-668. PMID: 15920748.
  6. Isenring EA, Bauer JD, Capra S. Nutrition support using the American Dietetic Association medical nutrition therapy protocol for radiation oncology patients improves dietary intake compared with standard practice. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007 Mar; 107 (3): 404-412. PMID: 17324657.
  7. Isenring E, Cross G, Daniels L, Kellett E, Koczwara B. Validity of the malnutrition screening tool as an effective predictor of nutritional risk in oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer. 2006 Nov; 14 (11): 1,152-1,156. Epub 2006 Apr 19. PMID: 16622648.
See Nutrition and the Adult Oncology Patient and Nutrition Assessment for Adult Oncology Patients.