Nutritional Status Assessment I

Code:

CN22007

Acronym:

MAENI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2018/2019 - 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	100	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 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 as 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 rigour 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. The nutritional status dysfunctions. Indices of screening and assessment of nutritional status.

7. Techniques for assessing body composition.

8. Multidisciplinary work and interaction with other professionals.

Mandatory literature

Nieman David C.; Nutritional assessment. ISBN: 978-1-260-08448-1
Arthur D. Stewart 070; International standards for anthropometric assessment. ISBN: 0-620-36207-3

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.

5. Students are invited to attend conferences, Masters or PhD 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

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	45,00
Frequência das aulas	45,00
Total:	90,00

Eligibility for exams

Distributed evaluation (DE) with final exam (FE), in which it is necessary to obtain a minimum mark of 50% in each part and also the attendance of attendance at the Course Unit classes. According to the legislation, "it is considered that a student meets attendance (...) if he does not exceed the limit number of absences, corresponding to 25% of the classes of Laboratory type".

If the student reaches or exceeds this limit of the absences to the Laboratory classes, he will fail the component of Distributed Evaluation.

 

Calculation formula of final grade

The calculation of the Final Mark (FM) 20 marks includes the 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 a score of 5 + a Laboratory Test - proof of completion of a practical assessment of nutritional status, with a score of 5.

Students will be able to obtain or improve their classification in a second Mini-test and in a 2nd Laboratory Test, with the same formats as the first.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Option for the normal regime (ordinary students) or in the corresponding period of examinations: The calculation of the Final Mark (FM) is made from the note of the DA that corresponds to a Laboratory Test (LT) - practical test of accomplishment of the evaluation of the state (minimum score of 5 values) and FE that corresponds to 10 values in 20 (minimum score of 5 values), as follows: FM = DA * 0.5 + FE * 0.5

To pass in the course unit, the frequency of laboratory classes and the Distributed Assessment are compulsory.

Classification improvement

The Mini-test, the Laboratory Test and the Final Exam can be object of evaluation or improvement of the classification in the "Época de Recurso"