[Process of medical nutrition therapy]. / Proceso de tratamiento médico nutricional.

Introduction: Medical nutrition therapy is a very useful tool in maintaining and recovering the health of patients with disease-related malnutrition, although its implementation can be complex and is not without risks. Quality processes are understood as sets of activities that are related or interact to transform input elements into results. From the SENPE Management Work Group we present the process of medical nutrition therapy (PMNT), which aims to facilitate the management of clinical nutrition of a multidisciplinary nutrition support team in a hospital setting. This paper describes the seven sub-processes PMNT is comprised of, in addition to a previous nutritional screening sub-process. Each sub-process is divided into a first section with a technical sheet detailing its general aspects, while a second section proposes key objectives, quality indicators, and standards for their evaluation. .

Introducción: El tratamiento médico nutricional es de gran utilidad en el mantenimiento y recuperación de la salud de los pacientes con desnutrición relacionada con la enfermedad, aunque su implementación puede ser compleja y no está exenta de riesgos. Se entiende por proceso aquel conjunto de actividades que están mutuamente relacionadas o que interactúan para transformar elementos de entrada en resultados. Desde el Grupo de Trabajo de Gestión de la SENPE presentamos el Proceso de Tratamiento Médico Nutricional (PTMN), que tiene por objetivo facilitar la gestión de la nutrición clínica, pensando en un equipo de soporte nutricional multidisciplinar de atención al paciente hospitalizado. En este documento se describen los siete subprocesos que constituyen el PTMN, además de un subproceso previo de cribado nutricional. Cada subproceso se divide en una primera sección con una ficha técnica en la que se detallan sus aspectos generales, mientras que en la segunda sección se proponen objetivos clave, indicadores de calidad y estándares para su evaluación.

[COVID pandemic and clinical nutrition response in Spain: results of a national survey]. / Pandemia de COVID y respuesta de la nutrición clínica en España: resultados de una encuesta nacional.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced major organizational and care changes in the health system. However, in Spain, the circumstances suffered by the health professionals who have cared for pandemic patients from a clinical nutrition standpoint has remained unknown up to this moment. Objectives: the management and care changes made in clinical nutrition units in Spain, and their impact on clinical practice are described. Material and methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out using a survey directed at SENPE members (June 2020). Responses sent by health professionals in the field of clinical nutrition who had treated patients with COVID-19 in Spanish hospitals were included in the study. Resultados: a total of 116 survey forms were analyzed, mostly filled out by doctors (57.8 %) working at hospitals with more than 500 beds (56 %); 46 % of survey respondents were on telework. There was a nutritional care plan in 68 % of cases, such plan being present mainly in hospitals with more than 500 beds (p < 0.001). In these hospitals more specific diets for COVID-19 were implemented than in those under 500 beds: 18 (35.3 %) vs 44 (67.7 %), (p < 0.001). The use of recommendations issued by scientific societies was reported in 86 % of cases. Never or almost never could a satisfactory nutritional assessment be performed for 38.8 %. The prescription of nutritional supplements was not less than 50 %. Health workers rated their performance as satisfactory or very satisfactory (51.7 %), and this was not related to hospital size but to having implemented a COVID-19 diet (p < 0.05). Conclusions: clinical nutrition in Spain has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with organizational and managerial changes and, although care has been clearly affected, some quality standards were ultimately maintained. Larger hospitals have had some advantages in making these adjustments.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la pandemia ocasionada por el SARS-CoV-2 ha obligado a realizar importantes cambios organizativos y asistenciales en el sistema sanitario. Sin embargo, hasta ahora se desconoce cuáles han sido las circunstancias que han sufrido los profesionales sanitarios que han atendido esta pandemia desde los servicios de nutrición clínica en España. Objetivos: describir los cambios de gestión y asistenciales realizados en las unidades de nutrición clínica en España y su repercusión en la práctica clínica. Material y métodos: estudio transversal mediante técnica de encuesta dirigida a socios de la SENPE (junio 2020). Se incluyen en el estudio respuestas remitidas por profesionales sanitarios del ámbito de la nutrición clínica que atendieron a pacientes con COVID-19 en hospitales españoles. Resultados: se analizan 116 encuestas provenientes en su mayoría de médicos (57,8 %) y de hospitales de más de 500 camas (56 %); el 46 % de los encuestados teletrabajó. Se contó con la presencia de un plan de atención nutricional en el 68 % de los casos, plan que fue mayoritario en los hospitales con más de 500 camas (p < 0,001). En estos hospitales se implantaron más dietas específicas para COVID-19 que en los menores de 500 camas: 18 (35,3 %) vs. 44 (67,7 %), (p < 0,001). El uso de las recomendaciones de las sociedades científicas se notificó en el 86 % de los casos. El 38,8 % nunca o casi nunca pudieron hacer una valoración nutricional satisfactoria. La prescripción de suplementos nutricionales fue no inferior al 50 %. El 51,7 % de los encuestados calificaron su actuación como satisfactoria o muy satisfactoria, y esta no se relacionó con el tamaño de hospital pero sí con haber implantado una dieta para la COVID-19 (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: la nutrición clínica en España ha respondido a la pandemia de COVID-19 con cambios organizativos y de gestión y, aunque la asistencia se ha visto claramente afectada, se han podido mantener algunos estándares de calidad. Los hospitales de mayor tamaño han tenido cierta ventaja para realizar estos ajustes.

Prevention of oral mucositis secondary to antineoplastic treatments in head and neck cancer by supplementation with oral glutamine.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the efficacy of glutamine in the prevention of the incidence of oral mucositis secondary to cancer therapies in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Secondary objectives were to know the incidence of odynophagia, interruptions of treatment and the requirements of analgesia and nasogastric tube. MATERIAL AND METHODS: prospective cohort study of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of HNC treated with radiotherapy ± concomitant chemotherapy. We compared 131 patients receiving glutamine orally at a dose of 10 g/8 hours with 131 patients who did not receive it. RESULTS: patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 1.78 times higher of mucositis (95% CI [1.01-3.16], p = 0.047). Regarding odynophagia, patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 2.87 times higher (95% CI [1.62-5.18], p = 0.0003). The 19.8% of patients who did not take glutamine discontinued treatment versus6.9% of patients who took (p = 0.002). Regarding support requirements, 87.8% of patients without glutamine required analgesia versus 77.9% of patients with glutamine (p = 0.03) and nasogastric tube was indicated in 9.9% and 3.1% respectively (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: oral glutamine in patients receiving cancer treatments for HNC prevents the incidence of oral mucositis and odynophagia, and decreases treatment interruptions and the use of analgesia and nasogastric tube.

Prevention of oral mucositis secondary to antineoplastic treatments in head and neck cancer by supplementation with oral glutamine / Prevención de la mucositis oral secundaria a los tratamientos antineoplásicos en el cáncer de cabeza y cuello mediante suplemento con glutamina oral

Objectives: to evaluate the efficacy of glutamine in the prevention of the incidence of oral mucositis secondary to cancer therapies in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Secondary objectives were to know the incidence of odynophagia, interruptions of treatment and the requirements of analgesia and nasogastric tube. Material and methods: prospective cohort study of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of HNC treated with radiotherapy ± concomitant chemotherapy. We compared 131 patients receiving glutamine orally at a dose of 10 g/8 hours with 131 patients who did not receive it. Results: patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 1.78 times higher of mucositis (95% CI [1.01-3.16], p = 0.047). Regarding odynophagia, patients not taking glutamine had a hazard ratio 2.87 times higher (95% CI [1.62-5.18], p = 0.0003). The 19.8% of patients who did not take glutamine discontinued treatment versus 6.9% of patients who took (p = 0.002). Regarding support requirements, 87.8% of patients without glutamine required analgesia versus 77.9% of patients with glutamine (p = 0.03) and nasogastric tube was indicated in 9.9% and 3.1% respectively (p = 0.02). Conclusion: oral glutamine in patients receiving cancer treatments for HNC prevents the incidence of oral mucositis and odynophagia, and decreases treatment interruptions and the use of analgesia and nasogastric tube

Objetivos: evaluar la eficacia de la glutamina en la prevención de la incidencia de mucositis secundaria a las terapias oncológicas en pacientes con carcinoma de cabeza y cuello. Los objetivos secundarios fueron conocer la incidencia de odinofagia e interrupciones de los tratamientos y los requerimientos de analgesia y sonda nasogástrica. Material y métodos: estudio prospectivo de cohortes de pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide de cabeza y cuello tratados con radioterapia ± quimioterapia concomitante. Se compararon 131 pacientes que recibieron glutamina oral a una dosis de 10 g/8 horas con 131 pacientes que no la recibieron. Resultados: los pacientes que no tomaron glutamina tuvieron una hazard ratio 1,78 veces mayor de mucositis (IC 95% [1,01-3,16], p = 0,047). Respecto a la odinofagia, los pacientes que no tomaron glutamina tuvieron una hazard ratio 2,87 veces mayor (IC 95% [1,62-5,18], p = 0,0003]. El 19,8% de los pacientes que no tomaron glutamina interrumpieron el tratamiento versus 6,9% de los pacientes que la tomaron (p = 0,002). En cuanto a los tratamientos de soporte, el 87,8% de los pacientes sin glutamina requirieron analgesia versus 77,9% de los pacientes con glutamina (p = 0,03) y la sonda nasogástrica fue indicada en un 9,9% y 3,1% respectivamente (p = 0,02). Conclusión: la glutamina oral en pacientes que reciben tratamiento por carcinoma de cabeza y cuello, previene la incidencia de mucositis oral y odinofagia y disminuye las interrupciones de tratamientos y el uso de analgesia y sonda nasogástrica

Organization and management of clinical nutrition in Spain. How do we assess the quality of our activities?

INTRODUCTION: Among the objectives of the SENPE Management Working Group is the development of knowledge and tools related to the evaluation of health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To obtain an approximate profile of clinical nutrition in hospitals in Spain, specifically concerning its organization, endowment, activities and quality indicators. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in 2013 through a structured survey sent to a random sample of 20% of hospitals from the network of the National Health System of Spain, stratified by the number of hospital beds. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 67% (83% in hospitals with over 200 beds). In 65% of hospitals, clinical nutrition is run by a coordinated team or unit, with a doctor working full time in only 50% of centers. Other professionals are often not recognized as part of the team or unit. There is a specialized monographic nutrition clinic in 62% of centers and 72% have more than 40 new inpatient consultations per month (27% with more than 80 per month). Among the centers with a clinical nutrition team or unit, there is a greater tendency to monitor quality indicators related to clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: There is widespread addition of clinical nutrition teams and units in hospitals in Spain. However, truly multidisciplinary organization is not often found. High workloads are assumed in relation to staffing levels. The existence of well-organized structures may be associated with benefits that directly affect attendance.