Pharmacy Assistant - Green Cross Publishing

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8 have to be able to detect it in the first place. Over the last number of years there have been a number of tools designed to help identify malnutrition in a clinical setting. The malnutrition universal screening tool - MUST - was developed for use in the clinical setting by the British Association of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition. But even without the use of these tools, there are a number of simple questions that you can ask that will help to identify patients who are at risk: • Has the patient reported a poor appetite? • Do they often have difficulty with eating or chewing food? • Have they lost interest in food over the last few months? • Have they stopped eating as much as before? • At mealtimes, do they often drink instead of eating food? • Were they eating a balanced diet and are they now only managing a light diet? • Do they often feel full very quickly when they first start eating? • Do they look thin? • Are their clothes loose? • Is their jewellery loose eg wedding band? Even by asking these simple and quick questions, you can easily assess a patient whose dietary patterns may have changed. It is important to look for these indicators as they can be a very subtle way of letting us know if someone is losing weight and therefore at risk. A pharmacist or pharmacy assistant pharmacy assistant is in an ideal position to ask these questions. Patients seldom present saying ‘I am malnourished’. They usually present with a range of other complaints or issues – patients or carers often ask for something as simple as a ‘tonic or something to give them a boost’. Once we have taken the first step in identifying a malnourished individual or a person ‘at risk’ of malnutrition, we must next take action. If the person is unable to eat a healthy balanced diet, one of the easiest ways to provide them with additional nutrition is through the use of oral nutritional supplements. Oral nutritional supplements provide a very effective way of providing a significant amount of protein and calories to someone who may not be able to take sufficient amounts from foods and their normal diet. It is thought that up to 50 per cent of elderly do not meet their energy requirements every day and oral nutritional supplements such as Fresubin Protein Energy can provide up to 600kcals and 40g protein in only two cartons a day. If a patient has a higher fibre need, Fresubin Energy Fibre may be ideal in providing energy/calories, protein and dietary fibre. Another vital issue in the provision of balanced diet is the supplementation of vitamins and minerals (trace elements).The Fresubin range of oral nutritional supplements can provide the recommended requirements of vitamins and trace elements in two or three tetra cartons per day. Of course, there is little point in providing a supplement that does not have an appealing taste. The Fresubin range has recently been reformulated to match the great taste of Fresubin Protein Energy, which lives up to its slogan of ‘the best tasting sip feed ever!...from If the person is unable to eat a healthy balanced diet, one of the easiest ways to provide them with additional nutrition is through the use of oral nutritional supplements Fresenius Kabi. If we can start to look at how we assess and identify these patients on a regular basis, only then can we start to actively treat them. The common belief that prevention is better than cure still prevails, let us not wait until these patients are suffering from a variety of malnutrition related illnesses. With the Fresubin range of oral nutritional supplements malnutrition can be a thing of the past. Bairbre Hickie, RGN, Fresenius Kabi Ireland
See the Difference fibre can make in supporting your nutritionally compromised patients Fortisip Multi Fibre’s unique MF6TM blend of fibres is clinically proven to reduce laxative use, relieve constipation, reduce the incidence of diarrhoea and improve gut transit for patients requiring nutritional support. 1-4 Recommend Fortisip Multi Fibre and see the difference for yourself. For advice, samples or more information, call Freephone 1800 923 404. Nutricia, Block 1, Deansgrange Business Park, Deansgrange, Co. Dublin. | Tel: +353 1 289 0283 | Fax: +353 1 289 0255 | Email: info@ncc.nutricia.ie References: 1. Vandewoude MFJ et al. Age and Ageing 2005; 34: 120–4. 2. Trier E et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1999; 28(5): 595–6. 3. Silk DB et al. Clin Nutr 2001; 20(1): 49–58. 4. Elia M et al. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2008; 27:120-145.
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