Oncology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Oncology, including details on cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy.

Critical evaluation of nutrition screening tools recommended for oncology patients.

Kubrak C, Jensen L

Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ckubrak@ualberta.ca

Malnutrition ranges from 20% to 80% in oncology patients. Malnutrition has been associated with reduced response to treatment, survival, and quality of life. Therefore, screening for malnutrition in patients with cancer is recommended by clinical practice groups including the Oncology Nursing Society. Nurses are in an ideal position to carry out nutrition screening. Three nutrition screening tools that have been recommended for use with oncology patients by the Oncology Nursing Society are critically evaluated. The Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment has demonstrated diagnostic value in oncology patients at risk of malnutrition or who are malnourished.

Published 18 September 2007 in Cancer Nurs, 30(5): E1-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Oncology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.