Nutritional Status Assessment I

Code:

CN22007

Acronym:

MAENI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2020/2021 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle.up.pt/course/view.php?id=169
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	78	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:

1.  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 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:

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

Arthur D. Stewart 070; International standards for anthropometric assessment. ISBN: 0-620-36207-3
Nieman David C.; Nutritional assessment. ISBN: 978-1-260-08448-1
Beth Mordarski and Jodi Wolff; Nutrition Focused Physical Exam Pocket Guide, 2nd Ed., Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Second edition, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-88091-966-1

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. "Hands-on" activities and intensive training will take place so that students can handle the equipment; recognize 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 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 Ph.D. discussions on relevant themes. A discussion on the topic takes place in the next lecture.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	0,00
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	30,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

The student will have to fulfill attendance to the laboratory classes in order to obtain the attendance to this Course.

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".

Calculation formula of final grade

The final classification corresponds to the mark of the final exam.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

To pass in the course unit, the frequency of laboratory classes is required.

These students will have as an alternative to attending the laboratory classes, the possibility of carrying out laboratory works to be combined with the professor.

Classification improvement

At exam in the "Época de Recurso".

Observations

The contents of the course can be viewed on the Moodle platform, accessible to all MAEN I students.

Students' attendance schedule: Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. To meet with me, you will have to enter the Zoom link that you find in Moodle.