Clinical Pharmacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Clinical Pharmacy - Essay Example It is evident that besides balanced food that is given to the patient some other nutrient supplements facilitate in recovery and reduce the health related troubles that become devastating if deficiency is related with the nutrients required for the well being. Patients are getting variety and choice of nutrition feed because of the commercial availability of many products in the market. Many companies are coming up with a special protocol of feed and related illness. This enhances the awareness of patient about the kind of food essential to combat illness (Concern at nutrition in hospitals). Nutrition supplements are licensed products and can be provided as the sole source of nutrition. They may be prescribed on medical grounds for diverse ailments. Depending on the severity and class of sickness, the nutrition supplements can be taken. Hospitals play lead role in making the patient aware of the consequences if the nutrition is not provided in the desired quantity. Hospital staff must help the patient psychologically, the advantages and disadvantages of the feed type he has been introduced to. This not only prepares the patient mentally but patient also co-operates with the hospital staff. Keeping this in mind the present study is conducted to build an understanding towards the nutritional support products, their advantages and problems and the available products that patient can utilize for better and sooner recovery. Basically three types of feeds are given for diverse ailments these are: Sip feeds, Enteral (tube) feeds and TPN feeds. Sip Feeds Various policies are defined to prescribe Sip feeds or Oral Nutrition Supplements for Patients with poor nutritional status especially those having: Disease related malnutritione.g. Reduced appetite or experience difficulty in swallowing, in cancer of throat or gut. Short-bowel syndrome (SBS) Intractable malapsorption Pre-operative preparation of undernourished patients Proven inflammatory bowel disease Following total gastrectomy Dysphagia Bowel Fistulas CAP Dialysis (Nutrition support in adults) Importance of Sip feed: Help the patient to gain weight or avoid loss of weight. Help the patient to surmount weakness of tiredness Help the patient to take in adequate liquid. Help the patient to alleviate the pressure to eat Help the patient to drink enough when dietary supplements cannot. (Nutrition support in adults) Before prescribing Sip feed it is essential to assess nutritional status, BMI calculation and weight loss by using simple nutritional risk scoring system When prescribing sip feeds * Do try equipped standard food (by adding milk, butter, cheese or cream)as first line therapy (4weeks before stipulating sip feeds). * Ensure that all patients be given suitable dietary advice by a state-registered dietitian or suitable trained member of the primary health care team. * No long term use without regular monitoring and assessment * It should not exceed 500-600kcals daily unless under the care of a dietitian. * Ensure that supplements are not taken at meal times / after meals e.g. as a bedtime drink to avoid reduction in food intake. * It should not be given as the sole source of nutrition except in consultation with