(PTFS12-01-25) Exploring Variation in Nutrition Assessment Tools Amongst Practicing Registered Dietitians

Objectives: Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) lack access to a standardized tool for conducting comprehensive nutrition assessments. In healthcare settings, lack of a standardized nutrition assessment can lead to oversight of important components of their patients’ nutritional requirements (e.g., traditional culinary preferences). To better understand the scope and nature of tools currently used by RDNs to conduct nutrition assessments, the objectives of our study were to (1) examine the types of nutrition assessment tools currently being used by RDNs and (2) explore similarities and differences in the information captured by these nutrition assessment tools.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with practicing Registered Dietitians working in U.S. healthcare settings. The interview questions were developed internally by the study team and were piloted by three participants prior to conducting the formal interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed via Zoom. The study team conducted a qualitative analysis highlighting themes in the tools currently used by clinicians for nutrition assessments.

Results: Of 20 RDNs, 12 participants noted that they use a template that they personally created when conducting nutritional assessments. Most participants (n=14) noted that they use a combination of tools, while fewer (n=6) use a template through their facility’s Electronic Health Record system. Just 5 participants utilize a note template provided by the facility in which they work.

Conclusions: Several tools support RDNs in conducting a comprehensive nutrition assessment that align with the Nutrition Care Process. However, variation in assessment tools—and the prevalence of additional customization—suggests that a standardized web-based tool may benefit RDNs in their practice.

Funding Sources: The authors are grateful for the support from the Personalized Nutrition Initiative and the Chancellor’s Call to Action Program at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.