No abstract

Patient-centered care considers a patient's unique needs, values, preferences, and the psychosocial situation at the heart of decisions related to healthcare. Dietitians have reported several barriers to the practice of patient-centered care, including a lack of time and support and a perception that patients are unable to participate. This is meaningful as decisions regarding nutrition therapy, specifically in adult populations with cancer, influence patient morbidity and mortality and a patient's quality of life. Patient-centered care is associated with improved decision-making, patient-provider communication, and quality of life in patients with cancer. This case report discusses and applies patient-centered care in conjunction with the best available evidence for an adult patient with a history of head and neck cancer admitted to a critical care unit. Nutrition support clinicians are equipped to use a patient-centered and evidence-based approach to help patients navigate through nutrition therapy decisions that may influence both clinical and quality of life outcomes. Further research should be done to determine the association between patient-centered care and quality of life outcomes in nutrition support practice.

No abstract

In critical care, low muscle mass is proposed as a risk factor for adverse outcomes that may be modified by nutrition. However, health care providers, including physicians and registered dietitians, may not routinely consider this risk factor in screening, assessing, or designing interventions. A literature search was conducted to compare clinical outcomes in critically ill adult patients with and without low muscle mass upon admission. This narrative review identified a statistically significant association between low muscle mass and increased risk of mortality and length of stay. Health care providers should consider screening for low muscle mass upon admission, as this may inform practice and improve clinical outcomes.