FK-KMK UGM. Since the 1970s, cases of malnutrition have increasingly been found in hospitals across various countries. Based on the prevalence of malnutrition in developing countries – including Indonesia – the rate is relatively higher, reaching 47-60% compared to 20-46% in developed countries. This was conveyed by Prof. Dr. Susetyowati, DCN., M.Kes upon her inauguration as a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Gadjah Mada University (FK-KMK UGM) in the field of Health Nutrition in the Senate Hall of UGM (7/5).
During the inauguration, Prof. Susetyowati delivered a speech entitled ‘Implementation of Nutritional Screening in Adults to Prevent Malnutrition in Hospitals.’
“Nutritional screening is needed to detect malnutrition as early as possible to prevent a decline in patients’ nutritional status during treatment,” she explained.
Prof. Susetyowati acknowledged that this study was motivated by her academic experience in studying malnutrition cases based on nutritional screening in four hospitals in Indonesia – a journal published in 2019.
She and her research colleagues found that around 37.3-48.2% of patients were at risk of malnutrition, as indicated by several nutritional screening methods namely Nutrition Risk Screening-2002 (NRS-2002), Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), and Simple Nutrition Screening Tool (SNST).
“Whether or not patients’ nutritional needs are met in hospitals is determined by two factors: nutrient intake and biological nutrient utilization,” she added.
Furthermore, Prof. Susetyowati emphasized the importance of nutritional screening in hospitals. Nutritional screening can also be carried out as a preventive measure against the onset of malnutrition.
“Nutritional screening is a quick and simple process, if not done, the risk can lead to complications,” she stressed.
Therefore, hospitals must pay attention to the implementation of nutritional screening for patients – especially before entering the Standardized Nutritional Care Process. This is done to prevent a decline in patients’ nutritional status while also promoting the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Quality Education (SDGs 4) and Good Health and Well-being (SDGs 3). (Isroq Adi Subakti/Reporter)
