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What Is a Malnutrition Screening Tool?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A malnutrition screening tool is a rubric care providers can use to quickly assess a patient's risk of malnutrition. It standardizes patient assessments to reduce the risk of missing malnutrition or its complications in a patient, and also creates a score the doctor can enter in the patient's chart. The score makes it possible for other care providers in the future to track the patient, as it is an objective measure rather than a subjective comment like “patient looks thin.”

There are a number of malnutrition screening tools available, and medical facilities usually pick one and ask all their personnel to use it. The screening typically includes taking the patient's height and weight, asking the patient some questions, and noting the results. The doctor can follow a flowchart to assign a score. If a patient has unexpected weight loss, the doctor can determine whether it's associated with disease, malnutrition, or another issue, and will use this to determine the most appropriate score.

Children are at special risk for malnutrition, which can result in a compromised immune system and stunted development.
Children are at special risk for malnutrition, which can result in a compromised immune system and stunted development.

Rankings on a malnutrition screening tool can vary from a very low risk, indicating that a patient appears healthy and is getting appropriate nutrition, to active malnutrition that requires treatment. When a patient has a high score, the doctor may refer her to a nutritionist and perform a more thorough medical evaluation to learn more about why the patient is not getting enough nutrition. The doctor may also consider working with a social worker, as malnutrition may be the result of food insecurity rather than illness, and the patient could need help to access benefits programs that might pay for food.

Malnutrition is a common cause of chronic liver failure.
Malnutrition is a common cause of chronic liver failure.

Familiarity with a malnutrition screening tool can make the process go quickly. The doctor may be able to unobtrusively collect the necessary information, which can make the patient feel more comfortable. Patients may feel worried or singled out if they think their doctors are screening them for malnutrition, even though this is a routine part of patient intake that a facility usually requires for all new admissions.

ChilAn inadequate amount of protein in a child's diet can cause her immune system to decline.
ChilAn inadequate amount of protein in a child's diet can cause her immune system to decline.

Sometimes a malnutrition screening tool is not entirely accurate. Every patient is slightly different, and special circumstances may be difficult to account for. In this setting, the doctor may add a note to the numerical score to provide more context. Doctors must also consider how to handle the screening when a patient has an eating disorder. The doctor needs to use the malnutrition screening tool for patient safety, but asking questions about weight and eating habits might cause a relapse or emotional distress in the patient.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

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    • Children are at special risk for malnutrition, which can result in a compromised immune system and stunted development.
      By: poco_bw
      Children are at special risk for malnutrition, which can result in a compromised immune system and stunted development.
    • Malnutrition is a common cause of chronic liver failure.
      By: maya2008
      Malnutrition is a common cause of chronic liver failure.
    • ChilAn inadequate amount of protein in a child's diet can cause her immune system to decline.
      By: Tatyana Gladskih
      ChilAn inadequate amount of protein in a child's diet can cause her immune system to decline.
    • A malnutrition screening tool can help identify if a person has an eating disorder.
      By: Tatty
      A malnutrition screening tool can help identify if a person has an eating disorder.