Dietitians Australia DSR MCQ flashcards

31 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Nutrition Care Process steps

A four-step cycle: nutrition assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, and nutrition monitoring and evaluation. Each step is documented in standardised terminology so care is reproducible and auditable.

Nutrition diagnosis statement

A structured statement with three parts: problem (the diagnostic label), aetiology (the cause), and signs and symptoms (the evidence). Example: inadequate protein intake related to poor appetite as evidenced by intake records.

Body mass index formula

BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. It is a population screening index, not a direct measure of body composition, and thresholds vary with age and ethnicity.

Waist circumference interpretation

A measure of central adiposity used with BMI. Risk thresholds differ by sex and population group, so the applicable cut-off must match the client's demographic and the guideline being used.

Mifflin-St Jeor equation

A predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in adults using weight, height, age, and sex. The result is multiplied by an activity factor, then adjusted for clinical status.

Refeeding syndrome risk

Risk arises when a malnourished person is fed rapidly, causing electrolyte shifts, especially low phosphate, potassium, and magnesium. Identification triggers cautious, monitored reintroduction of nutrition.

Malnutrition screening tool

A short validated questionnaire, such as the MST or MUST, that flags risk using recent weight loss and reduced intake. A positive screen prompts full assessment, not immediate intervention.

Albumin as a marker

Serum albumin falls with inflammation, infection, and fluid shifts, so it reflects illness severity rather than dietary protein intake. It should not be used alone to diagnose malnutrition.

Glycaemic index definition

A ranking of carbohydrate-containing foods by their blood glucose response relative to a reference food, tested in a standardised quantity. It is applied to foods, not to whole diets.

Food composition databases

National databases provide nutrient values per 100 grams for foods. Values differ by brand, cooking method, and edible portion, so the closest match and its limitations should be recorded.

Levels of evidence hierarchy

Evidence is ranked from systematic reviews and randomised trials at the top through cohort and case-control studies to expert opinion. Guideline recommendations carry a grade reflecting this hierarchy.

Enteral nutrition indications

Enteral feeding is used when oral intake is insufficient or unsafe but the gastrointestinal tract works. The route and formula depend on digestion, absorption, and fluid tolerance.

Parenteral nutrition indication

Used when the gastrointestinal tract cannot be used or absorption is inadequate. It requires central or peripheral access, sterile technique, and close monitoring for infection and metabolic complications.

Texture-modified diet purpose

Modified food textures and thickened fluids reduce choking and aspiration risk in swallowing impairment. The level is set by a swallowing assessment, not by diagnosis alone.

Allergen declaration requirements

Labelled foods must declare specified allergens and their derivatives regardless of quantity. Dietetic advice must account for cross-contamination risk and for non-food sources of allergens.

Food-drug interaction example

Certain drugs alter nutrient absorption or metabolism, such as warfarin interacting with vitamin K intake. Advice aims for consistent intake rather than elimination unless clinically directed.

Informed consent elements

Consent requires capacity, adequate information about purpose and risks, voluntariness, and the right to refuse or withdraw. Consent is an ongoing process and is documented in the record.

Scope of practice

The range of activities a practitioner is competent and authorised to perform, set by qualification, registration, and employer policy. Tasks beyond it are referred or delegated with supervision.

Motivational interviewing spirit

Four elements: partnership, acceptance, compassion, and evocation. The practitioner collaborates rather than instructs, drawing on the client's own reasons and confidence for change.

Righting reflex

The urge to correct a client's behaviour by arguing for change. It typically provokes resistance, so the practitioner instead explores ambivalence and supports the client's autonomy.

Open-ended questions

Questions that invite elaboration rather than yes or no answers. They open exploration during assessment and counselling and are paired with reflective listening to sustain conversation.

Teach-back method

The practitioner asks the client to explain the plan in their own words. It checks comprehension of health information and reveals gaps, supporting health-literate communication.

Accredited interpreter use

Clinical discussions in another language use a trained interpreter, not a family member, to protect accuracy, privacy, and consent. The interpreter's role and boundaries are stated first.

SBAR handover structure

A structured communication tool: situation, background, assessment, and recommendation. It gives interprofessional teams a predictable format for concise, complete clinical handover.

Professional boundaries

The limits that keep the therapeutic relationship safe and client-focused, such as avoiding dual relationships, self-disclosure excess, and exploitation of power or trust.

Conflict of interest disclosure

Financial or personal interests that could bias professional judgement must be declared and managed. Undisclosed industry relationships compromise objectivity and public trust in advice.

Contemporaneous documentation

Records are written at the time of care or as soon as practicable, dated, signed, and attributable. Late or altered entries must be amended transparently, never deleted.

Privacy and confidentiality duty

Personal health information is collected only as needed and disclosed only with consent or under legal exception. Practitioners follow national privacy principles and health records law.

Referral decision rule

Refer when the client's needs exceed the practitioner's competence or resources. The referral names the concern, the reason, and the expected role of the receiving professional.

Cultural safety in practice

Practice that recognises power differences and the client's cultural identity, and adapts communication and food advice accordingly. It requires reflection on the practitioner's own assumptions.

Reflective practice purpose

Structured review of one's own decisions and communication to identify learning needs. It supports continuing competence and is expected evidence of professional development.