Voedingsscreening

Voedingsscreening is a systematic process used to identify individuals who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. This screening tool helps healthcare professionals determine a patient's nutritional status quickly and efficiently. The primary purpose of voedingsscreening is to detect nutritional problems early, allowing for timely intervention and improved health outcomes.

Healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, and dietitians, typically perform voedingsscreening upon admission to healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, or rehabilitation centers. It may also be conducted during regular check-ups for vulnerable populations like the elderly or chronically ill patients.

Common screening tools include the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ). These tools evaluate factors such as weight loss, body mass index, dietary intake, and presence of disease-related nutrition impact symptoms.

Based on the screening results, healthcare professionals can develop appropriate nutritional interventions, which may include dietary modifications, oral nutritional supplements, or in severe cases, artificial nutrition support. Regular follow-up screenings help monitor the effectiveness of these interventions and adjust care plans as needed.