Introduction: Critically ill children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are at high risk for developing nutritional deficiencies and undernutrition is known to be a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Malnutrition represents a continuous spectrum ranging from marginal nutrient status to severe metabolic and functional alterations and this in turn, affects clinical outcome. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess nutritional status of critically ill children admitted to the PICU and its association to clinical outcomes. Methods: Critically ill children age 6 months to 18 years were prospectively enrolled on PICU admission. Nutritional status was assessed by weight for age (WFA: underweight), weight for height (WFH: wasting), height for age (HFA: stunting) z-scores and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC: wasting) according to the WHO. (1,2) Malnutrition was defined as mild, moderate, and severe if z-scores were > −1, > − 2, and > −3, respectively. Hospital and PICU length of stay (LOS), duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), and risk of mortality (ROM) by the Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM2) were obtained. Sensitivity and specificity of the MUAC to identify children with wasting (WFH) were calculated. Results: Two hundred and fifty children (136 males), aged 81 months (23-167; median (25-75 th IQR)), were prospectively included in the study. The hospital LOS was 8 (4-16) days; PICU LOS: 2 (1-4) days; duration of MV, 0 (0-1.5) days;
Objectives: Low socioeconomic income has been associated with poor nutrition. Medical students often volunteer at clinics providing free or subsidized care to patients with low socioeconomic status. This study reports the results of a survey distributed to medical students volunteering at an academic medical center's free clinic. The study aims to describe medical student attitudes towards nutrition as well as knowledge and awareness of nutritional resources available to patients with low socioeconomic status. Methods:A 13-item online survey was distributed to all four-years of medical students in the Spring of 2018. The survey included questions to evaluate students' knowledge of community resources and attitudes regarding nutrition counseling. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Results:The survey had a 17.5% response rate. Only 20.5% of students recalled formal education throughout their medical school curriculum on nutrition counseling for patients with low socioeconomic status. Eighty-one percent were not confident in their ability to counsel patients on programs to assist maintaining a healthy diet. Fifty-nine percent were aware that low-income patients may be eligible for the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but only 36% knew the benefits of the programs and only 7% were aware of other nutrition programs in the community. Ninety-four percent of students felt that it would be helpful to receive further education in this area prior to working with this vulnerable patient population in clinic. Conclusion:Medical students do not recall formally taught nutrition information and do not feel equipped to provide nutrition counseling to patients. This educational gap could result in many patients not receiving information regarding available nutrition related resources. Students welcome further nutrition education, which should be provided throughout the curriculum instead of at a single point in time.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.