Pilot of the Electronic Routine Nutritional Screening Tool (ERNST)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Nutritional Screening in Neuroscience Outpatients: A Pilot Study of the Electronic Routine Nutritional Screening Tool (ERNST)
IRAS ID
287939
Contact name
Vicky Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Poor nutritional status is suggested to negatively affect clinical outcomes. Specifically, undernutrition (commonly known as malnutrition) and overnutrition (commonly understood as overweight or obesity) are considered to be both a cause and a consequence of human disease. Early identification and treatment of poor nutritional status, together with the use of health technologies, have been shown to reduce human and healthcare costs, suggesting that a system-wide, preventative public health approach is needed. This single-centre study will compare the Electronic Routine Nutritional Screening Tool (ERNST) with both the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and the NICE assessment process for obesity. Eligible participants will be recruited from the outpatient setting at a neuroscience centre. Each participant will be screened using both ERNST and MUST and be asked to provide feedback of their screening experience. Results of ERNST will be compared with MUST and the NICE criteria for obesity to assess validity. Nursing staff will also be recruited to provide feedback regarding acceptability of the screening tools.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/0083
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion