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Surgery on Children

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Original Article
Usage and awareness of nutritional screening tools by nurses caring for pediatric patients in Yozgat province
Abstract
Aims: Malnutrition is a significant health issue in children and is closely related to prolonged hospital stays, increased complications, and mortality risk in hospitalized children. Effective use of nutritional screening tools is crucial for early detection of malnutrition. In this context, the active use of nutritional screening tools, the skill to use these tools, and the level of awareness about these tools among nurses who closely care for pediatric patients are vital factors that can potentially improve pediatric patients' health. Our study examines the usage and awareness of nutritional screening tools among nurses caring for pediatric patients in Yozgat province, a region with unique healthcare challenges and opportunities.
Methods: The study was planned as a prospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional design. Ninety-four nurses caring for pediatric patients in Yozgat province and its districts were administered an online questionnaire of 22 questions, which was designed to assess their knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards nutritional screening tools. The questionnaire was distributed through a secure online platform and included both closed-ended and open-ended questions. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 27.0.
Results: Of the participants, 78.7% were female and 21.3% were male. 60.6% of the participants were in the age range of 25-34 years, 62.8% had a bachelor's degree, 66% worked at state university hospitals, 30.9% had 6-10 years of professional experience, 74.5% were service nurses, and 39.4% had been involved with pediatric patients for 0-1 years. The most frequently cared age group was 3-6 years (19.9%) and 1-3 years (18.1%). 27.7% of the participants assessed nutrition risk status using visual assessment, 25.5% through anthropometric measurements, and 34% reported referring the physician and dietitian for intervention in risk detection. 47.9% indicated the presence of a screening scale in their institution, 57.1% used the form, 25.5% did not know the name of the screening scale, and 6.4% used the StrongKids scale.
Conclusion: Our study determined that nurses caring for pediatric patients often consider the screening scale as a secondary option for identifying the nutrition risk status, predominantly performing visual and anthropometric evaluations, and did not demonstrate sufficient proficiency or importance regarding screening scales. Although the determination of risk status varies according to the scale used, the significance of screening scales in detecting malnutrition is substantial. Therefore, our study recommends that necessary training be provided to pediatric nurses to use these tools more effectively and that current practices be reviewed. This will not only enable better assessment of the nutritional status of pediatric patients but also instill hope for the implementation of steps to prevent malnutrition.

Keywords : Malnutrition, nutritional screening tools, pediatric patient, pediatric nursing

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Article available in :
Volume 2, Issue 1, 2025
Page : 11-16
https://doi.org/10.51271/SOC-0027
Article Information
Received : 12 Kas 2024
Accepted : 04 Ara 2024
Published : 20 Oca 2025
Corresponding Author :

Kübra Taşdan: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Yozgat Bozok University, Yozgat, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Taşdan K, Andıran Şenaylı Y, Çiçek Z. Usage and awareness of nutritional screening tools by nurses caring for pediatric patients in Yozgat province. Surg Child. 2025;2(1):11-16.

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