units

NUT3005

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics
OfferedNot offered in 2015
Coordinator(s)Dr Tracy McCaffrey

Synopsis

Monitoring and evaluation are essential components of determining nutritional status both at the individual and population level. Therefore the interpretation of information from dietary, laboratory, anthropometric and clinical studies is central to the work of nutrition science students. In this unit, students will examine the methodological applications and limitations surrounding dietary assessment, body composition and biochemical tests. Students will be enabled to critically employ research skills when analysing nutrition related data by identifying appropriate methods, in terms of precision, validity and reproducibility for assessing dietary intake, body composition and nutritional status using biochemical tests. Students will be exposed to a number of anthropometric and dietary intake methods, as well as nutrition screening tools routinely used in both the clinical and research settings.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Assess food consumption at national, household and individual levels
  2. Communicate with individuals employing effective interview techniques
  3. Utilise a variety of dietary assessment methods with an understanding of precision, reproducibility and validity
  4. Assess anthropometry and body composition in individuals
  5. Assess nutritional status by interpreting relevant biochemical and pathology tests
  6. Estimate nutritional requirements of individuals
  7. Identify and utilise nutrition screening tools
  8. Employ effective research skills in analysing nutrition-related data.

Assessment

Weighed vs. estimated food diary and individual/group nutrition assessment (3,000 words) (50%)
Anthropometric practical exam (500 words) (25%)
Multiple choice questions (1.5 hours) (25%)
Micronutrient lab test summary (Formative) (Peer assessment)
Interview skills reflection (Formative) (Peer assessment)

Workload requirements

On-campus: 6 hours per week of interactive lectures and workshops + 6 hours self-directed learning and completion of assessment tasks.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prerequisites