What are dietitians prescribing? An evaluation of the prescribing practice of a nutrition support dietitian

Abstract

Background In 2016, registered dietitians in the UK were granted supplementary prescribing rights. There is currently little published data on the prescribing practices of dietitians. Aim The prescribing practice of a nutrition support dietitian specialising in intestinal rehabilitation was evaluated. Methods Over a six-month period, the dietitian collected data on her prescribing practice using the hospital proforma and then transferred the information to Excel. Findings Over a 6 month period, the dietitian prescribed for 24 patients. The most common prescriptions included parenteral nutrition, intravenous fluids and electrolytes, oral rehydration solutions and micronutrients. Medications deprescribed included codeine phosphate, loperamide, lansoprazole, forceval and folic acid. Conclusion The evaluation demonstrated that a nutrition support dietitian was able to prescribe a range of different medications related to the nutritional management of patients with intestinal failure. Further work is required to assess patient satisfaction, economic impact and attitude of other healthcare professionals.