Nutritional Status Assessment I

Code:

CN22007

Acronym:

MAENI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2017/2018 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=2899
Course/CS Responsible:	Nutrition Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CNUP	97	Plano oficial	2	-	3	35	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The exponential advances in Nutrition Science have led to the need for advanced training in nutritional assessment at the individual level.

These new challenges require the acquisition of competence in the assessment of nutritional status, which includes not only the knowledge of concepts and techniques, but also the accuracy of measurements and an ethical conduct inherent to biological measurements in individuals.

The link between scientific and technological advances, with the acquisition of competences and a professional attitude, provides us with a remarkable opportunity to improve quality and efficiency in the assessment of nutritional status.

Learning outcomes and competences

Taking all this into account, with theoretical and laboratory working sessions regarding nutritional status assessment, the aim is for students to gain:

 Knowledge:

• to understand the relevance of the individual´ nutritional status assessment;
• master the concepts, the theories, the principles, as well the techniques inherent to this process;
• to know the material and the equipment for nutritional status assessment.

Skills:

• to know how to choose the most appropriate methodology for the nutritional assessment of an individual and its´ condition;
• to know how to choose the equipment, to master the techniques and to complete the tasks;
• to handle with dexterity the equipment and the materials;
• to know how to evaluate and interpret the results of the different dimensions that compose the nutritional status assessment. To be able to integrate this information in order to formulate an opinion on the nutritional status of the individual;
• to develop autonomous work capacity.

 Competencies:

• to have proven autonomy in the assessment of nutritional status, particularly in the selection and application of methods;
• to have the ability to carry out the nutritional status evaluation of an individual with rigor and with appropriate personal conduct, inherent to biological measurements in individuals.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Presentation of the course unit, the aims, the program of work and methods of teaching and assessment.

2. Anthropometry:

3. Clinical indicators. Physical examination focused on nutrition.

4. Laboratory indicators.

5. Functional evaluation.

6. Indices of screening and assessment of nutritional status.

7. Techniques for assessing body composition.

8. Multidisciplinary work and interaction with other professionals.

Mandatory literature

Arthur D. Stewart 070; International standards for anthropometric assessment. ISBN: 0-620-36207-3
Lee Robert D.; Nutritional assessment. ISBN: 978-007-132636-0

Complementary Bibliography

Frisancho A. Roberto; Anthropometric standards. ISBN: 978-0-472-11591-4
Heymsfield Steven B. 340; Human body composition. ISBN: 0-7360-4655-0

Teaching methods and learning activities

The base of theoretical teaching is the exposure of subjects to the students. Students are encouraged to contribute. Activities with "hands-on" and intensive training will take place so that students can handle the equipment; recognise signs and symptoms of changes in nutritional status and the most appropriate methodological option. Strategies for enriching the study:

1. the evaluation of nutritional status in older adults in the community.

2. practice of the assessment of nutritional status outside of class, with the help of the lecturer.

3. class slides are placed on the website of the course;

4. a tutorial period is assigned to students, which will be on Monday from 16 to 17 hours in the FCNAUP pavilion.

5.Students are invited to attend conferences, Masters or Ph.D discussions on relevant themes. A discussion on the topic takes place in the next lecture.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	0,00
Teste	25,00
Trabalho laboratorial	25,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Distributed Evaluation (DE) and Final Examination (FE), it is necessary to obtain the minimum score of 50% in each. To pass the level, students may not miss more than a third of the planned laboratory classes and need to obtain at least 50% of the classification of DE.

Calculation formula of final grade

The calculation of the Final Mark (FM) 20 marks includes mark of 10 DE (minimum score of 5) and a mark of 10 FE (minimum score of 5) FM = DE + FE 

Examinations or Special Assignments

Distributed Evaluation (DE) is the completion of a mini-test, with the score of 5 + a Laboratory Test - proof of completion of practical assessment of nutritional status, with a score of 5.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

To pass the curricular unit the attendance of lab classes and Distributed Evaluation is mandatory. 

Classification improvement

As for Special Assessment students.