MiOA: Future Research (2023)
Future research should be conducted on the validity, reliability, and feasibility of nutrition assessment tools. Including but not limited to the Mini-Nutrition Assessment, Subjective Global Assessment, Patient-Geneated-SGA, Academy/ASPEN Indicators for Malnutrition, and other tools and frameworks administered by dietitians. Dietitians have the training, expertise, and responsibility to assess and diagnose malnutrition. Identification of valid and reliable tools for nutrition assessment is essential for accurate and timely diagnosis of malnutrition. Nutrition status measured by a dietitian using valid nutrition assessment tools and framework should be a core outcome for all nutrition intervention studies. Researchers should also report the etiology behind malnutrition diagnosis. Additional research on the validity and reliability of nutrition assessment tools will encourage the use of valid and reliable nutrition assessment and diagnosis tools in clinical, community and research settings.
Research should also be conducted on the effectiveness of dietitian interventions on outcomes of interest in older adults living in long-term care and in the community. Further investigation into the frequency of dietitian visits, platforms (in-person, virtual), and nutrition interventions will improve the quality of care, and potentially health outcomes in older adults. Research on food first nutrition interventions such as food fortification is also needed. Unfortunately, there are multiple barriers to older adults receiving nutrition care from dietitians, including lack of referral and care pathways, inconsistent insurance coverage, lack of reimbursement, lack of awareness of risks associated with malnutrition, and limited available dietitians. Investigation of implementation strategies to address these barriers may improve access to and quality of nutrition care by dietitians.
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