Ward et al developed a tool for screening patients in the community for nutritional risk. It consists of 9 questions and was developed in the United Kingdom.
Questions to ask the patient:
(1) difficulty eating or chewing food
(2) meals consist of liquids rather than solid food
(3) feel full soon after starting to eat
(4) decrease in appetite over past few months
(5) feel nauseated during meals
(6) clothes feel loose
(7) need help with cooking
Questions to ask a caregiver or family member
(8) look thin
(9) involuntary weight loss
screening score =
= SUM(points for all 9 questions)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 26
Score
Patient Risk
0 – 6
not at risk
7 – 16
possible or probable risk
>= 17
malnourished
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