A multi-disciplinary group of healthcare professionals has developed a practical guide to support symptom identification, assessment and management of symptoms of gastrointestinal (GI) intolerance in malnourished adults in the community.
Many patients in the community are malnourished either as a cause, or as a consequence of ill health. In this patient population, (GI) symptoms are a common morbidity.
When symptoms suggestive of GI intolerance occur, prompt management is essential to prevent dehydration, weight loss and exacerbation of malnutrition. Effective symptom management improves patient quality of life and can help prevent avoidable hospital admissions and reduce the high economic burden already posed by malnutrition1. However, recognising the symptoms of GI intolerance, understanding their possible causes and deciding upon the best management strategy can be a challenge.
The consensus guide ‘(PDF, 255KB) Practical guidance on the identification and management of symptoms of GI intolerance in malnourished adults in the community’, supported by Abbott, has been developed with input from an experienced group of healthcare professionals and is designed to provide support in the community setting for all members of the multi-disciplinary team when dealing with patients displaying symptoms of GI intolerance. It brings all the information together in a concise format that is easy to use on a day-to-day basis.
Click here to download the guide (PDF, 255KB)
The group was chaired by Kelly McCabe, Lead Oncology Dietitian, London (Chair). The other members of the group were: Emily Albon, Specialist GI Dietitian, Devon; Jordan Barnard, Specialist Community Dietitian, Kent; Pam O’Donoghue, Oncology HPB Clinical Nurse Specialist, London; Elizabeth Piggott, Community Lead Dietitian, Manchester; Dr Marion Sloan, FRCGP , GP, Sheffield and Committee member of Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology (PCSG).
