module specification

Module code: NF7044
Module title: Assessment of Nutritional Status
Teaching period: Autumn
Required prior learning: Course entrance requirements
This module focuses on the critical evaluation of the methodologies used in the assessment of nutritional status of individuals, groups and populations.
Assessment: Will comprise of one piece of extended coursework (2500 words), where learners will appraise the relevant literature and present descriptive and analytical data from one large survey, such as the NDNS (data will be provided).
To pass the module an aggregate mark of at least 50% must be obtained

Course entrance requirements

 Indicators of nutritional status. Includes anthropometry, biochemical measures, clinical information, dietary intake and social and environmental factors. LO1, LO2, LO3
Evaluation, selection and use of dietary, anthropometric, biochemical and functional indicators of nutritional status as well as ecological data and vital statistics. Consideration of the methods for assessing nutritional status in population sub groups including: children, adults, the elderly, sports people. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Anthropometry, range of measures and methods used to assess body composition, reliability and validity of measurements taken and interpretation. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Examination of existing data of relevance to nutritional status including official statistics e.g. NHANES, specific survey data e.g. NDNS, HSE and other UK surveys. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Consideration of the derivation of reference data ie child growth data, BMI, waist circumference and other percentile charts. Use of a recognised reference range to statistically analyse and present data from a large scale survey such as the NDNS thus gaining insight and understanding of the diet of the UK population. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
An examination of nutritional surveillance systems in both developed and developing countries.  Evaluation of the uses and limitations of these systems as a basis for improving nutritional status. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Principles of data management, statistical analysis and interpretation. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Using statistical software – SPSS.
Ethical implications of managing health data. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, directed activities and computer-based workshops (38 hours). The remaining hours will be devoted to learner centred learning reading and research in the area of nutritional status assessment.
PDP:  on completion of this module learners will evaluate how the module allowed them to develop skills in information technology, organisation and planning, communication, time management; they will also be asked to reflect on their ability to research literature effectively. They should record this in a pro forma that will form the basis of their final PDP record submitted with their dissertation.

 On completing this module learners will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the use of indicators of nutritional status to assess nutritional issues in individuals, groups and populations.
2. Evaluate the derivation and use of anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and nutrient reference ranges to classify and categorise nutritional status.
3. Identify and select the types of data which are relevant to the assessment of nutritional status at population, group and individual level and be able to make sound judgemental decisions on the appropriate use of recent relevant publications.
4. Analyse a large data set and critically evaluate associations of relevance to nutritional status..

 To pass the module an aggregate mark of at least 50% must be obtained.
Assessment will comprise of one piece of coursework (2500 words), where learners will appraise the relevant literature and present descriptive and analytical data from one large survey, such as the NDNS (data will be provided). The data analysis is extensive with detailed presentation of statistics which are not included within the word count.
The scientific report will outline the nutritional problems being examined, discuss the survey and data collection, present the results of the analyses, and discuss the implications of the findings. (LO 1, 2, 3 and 4).

 Bland M., (2015) An Introduction to Medical Statistics. 4thEd. Oxford: OUP [Core]
Gibney M, Margetts B, Kearney JM, Arab L (2004) Public Health Nutrition. Oxford. Blackwell Publishing.
Gibson R (2005) Principles of Nutritional Assessment, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press [Core]
Lanham-New S, Buttriss J, Welch A, Kearney J (2016) Public Health Nutrition 2nd ed. London, Wiley Blackwell.
Public Health England, National Diet and Nutrition Survey, results from years 1-4 combined of the rolling programme for 2008-12 (2014)https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-results-from-years-1-to-4-combined-of-the-rolling-programme-for-2008-and-2009-to-2011-and-2012 (accessed 21.1.16)
SPSS Getting started with SPSS (2015) http://www.spss-tutorials.com/spss-what-is-it/
(accessed 21.1.16)
World Health Organization (1996) Jelliffe, DB The assessment of the nutritional status of the community.  Monograph no.3. WHO
World Health Organisation, Nutrition (2016) http://www.who.int/nutrition/en/ (accessed 21.1.16)