SCREENING BY NURSES AND JUNIOR DOCTORS TO DETECT MALNUTRITION WHEN PATIENTS ARE FIRST ASSESSED IN-HOSPITAL

Four hundred and fifty four ward nurses and 319 junior doctors in 70 h ospitals were interviewed about the last patient they had admitted, us ing a brief questionnaire. The availability of weighing scales and hei ght measuring equipment was assessed by observers who visited the ward s of 107 hospitals. Two thirds of nurses and doctors asked patients ab out recent food intake; half of the nurses and three quarters of the d octors asked about unintentional weight loss. Answers to the questions were recorded in the notes on 52-80 per cent of occasions. Two thirds of nurses weighed the patient, but only 11 per cent (%) measured heig ht; approximately 80% of results were recorded. Most nurses and doctor s who asked no questions about nutrition and made no measurements fail ed to do so because they regarded them as unimportant. Weighing scales were adequately provided, but height measuring equipment was availabl e in only 17% of wards.