Managing Adult Malnutrition
Including a pathway for the appropriate use of
oral nutritional supplements (ONS)
GPs
The key responsibilities of GPs in the identification and management of malnutrition are outlined in the BAPEN Malnutrition Matters Commitment to Act document:
- Broadcast to primary care professionals the need to treat reported malnutrition in addition to seeing weight loss as a red flag for investigation
- Consider psychosocial assessment as part of its investigation, rather than just looking for organic causes
- Use treatment guidelines, such as in the malnutrition pathway, to balance when a food first approach or ONS prescribing is indicated
A number of resources have been developed for to assist GPs in identifying and managing patients at risk of malnutrition in the community including:
- Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community (The Malnutrition Pathway)
- Managing Malnutrition with Oral Nutritional Supplements
- 'Managing Malnutrition in COPD'
- COVID-19 resources
- Protein Foods Fact Sheets
- Dysphagia Fact Sheet
- Falls Fact Sheet
- Care homes resources
- GP Surgery Poster
- VIDEO: Malnutrition – What more can I do as a GP Dr Anita Nathan, GP and Malnutrition Lead for the RCGP GPs Interested in Nutrition Group, looks at areas she feels as a GP she can potentially implement to assist in identifying and treating patients with malnutrition risk.
- Patient leaflets
Further reading on Managing Malnutrition in the Community can be found in the BJGP article ‘Managing malnutrition in the community: we will all gain from finding and feeding the frail’
Tip sheet for GPs: Implementing the Pathway
How GPs might incorporate malnutrition screening and treatment into their everyday activities particularly in high risk groups.
Management of malnutrition according to risk category
A screening and management pathway using 'MUST' that can be used across care settings to identify adults who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.
VIDEO: Malnutrition – What more can I do as a GP
Dr Anita Nathan, GP and Malnutrition Lead for the RCGP GPs Interested in Nutrition Group, looks at areas she feels as a GP she can potentially implement to assist in identifying and treating patients with malnutrition risk.
Oral Nutritional Supplements: Where individuals require (or already have) a prescription of ONS, this pathway will guide you in setting goals, deciding on dose and duration of ONS, how and when to monitor progress and when to discontinue prescription.
A Guide to Managing Adult Malnutrition in the Community: the complete document is available.
Resources
A selection of publications for use by healthcare professionals, patients and carers are available in the resources section of the website.
Support for Patients & Carers
A number of resources are available that have been developed to support patients and carers.
Specific support for common conditions
A number of resources are available that have been developed to assist healthcare professionals supporting patients at risk of malnutrition as a result of a specific condition. These include:
Further Information
We can be contacted regarding the malnutrition pathway materials and website
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Weight loss calculator
If you have a combined BMI and weight loss calculator score of 1 or more please go to malnutritionselfscreening.org
for further information