Best Evidence Summary on Nutritional Risk Screening and Nutritional Assessment in Adult Critically Ill Patients

AIM: To retrieve, evaluate, and summarize the evidence related to nutritional risk screening and assessment in adult critically ill patients, providing an evidence-based decision-making reference for clinical healthcare professionals. DESIGN: This study was an evidence summary followed by the evidence summary reporting standard of Fudan University Center for Evidence-based Nursing. METHOD: According to the '6S' model of evidence resources, evidence on nutritional risk screening and assessment in adult critically ill patients was retrieved, including clinical decision-making, best practices, guidelines, evidence summaries, expert consensus, and systematic evaluations. DATA: Up to date, BMJ Best Practice, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Embase, PubMed, WanFang Medical, China Biomedical Literature Database, CNKI, and relevant professional society websites including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), GIlN, the National Guideline Clearinghouse, and Yi Maitong were searched from the establishment of these databases to Dec. 2024. RESULTS: Eleven literature sources were included, comprising 8 guidelines, 2 expert consensuses, and 1 evidence summary. Through rigorous synthesis, 18 best practice recommendations were distilled across eight critical domains: multidisciplinary team formation, screening targets, screening timing, screening instruments, screening frequency, assessment targets, assessment core parameters, and assessment frequency. CONCLUSION: This study summarizes the current best evidence regarding nutritional risk screening and assessment in adult critically ill patients, providing optimal evidence support for standardizing nutritional risk screening and assessment in this population. In clinical practice, it is essential to select the best evidence for localized and individualized application while continuously updating the evidence to standardize nursing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: Clinical medical staff are encouraged to use evidence-based recommendations for the screening and assessment of nutritional risks in adult critically ill patients. By implementing these best evidence practices, healthcare professionals can enhance patient care and improve clinical outcomes, ensuring that nutritional needs are effectively addressed. IMPACT: The effective screening and assessment of nutritional risk in critically ill patients are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. This study summarizes 18 pieces of best evidence concerning nutritional risk screening and assessment, highlighting their importance in clinical practice. Implementing these recommendations can enhance the quality of nutritional care, reduce complications, and ensure that patients receive appropriate nutritional interventions tailored to their needs. By focusing on these best practices, healthcare providers can significantly improve the management of nutrition in critically ill patients. REPORTING METHOD: This research followed the evidence summary reporting specifications of the Fudan University Center for Evidence-based Nursing. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The registration number is 'ES20221368'.