Tackling needs for clinical nutrition at local level: The Nutri’Action campaign in France

SummaryNutri’Action is a national campaign in France, designed to inform healthcare professionals about the importance of screening for malnutrition in order to improve current practice and patient outcomes. The campaign was launched in June 2005 with the first national malnutrition screening week in the community across France in patients over 65 years of age. In 2006, the campaign was extended to include patients of all ages in targeted cities for hospitals (Jonzac, Saint Brieuc, Limoges, Compiègne, Clermont-Ferrand) as well patients over the age of 65 years in the community across France.During the 2006 screening week, all general practitioners, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals (except paediatric specialty) supporting the campaign committed to evaluate all outpatients over 65 years (office calls or house calls) and all inpatients at risk of malnutrition. A screening tool based on body mass index and percentage weight loss was used. Data from over 1000 patients were evaluated (50% at home/nursing home, 50% in hospital). The campaign was supported by distribution of a large amount of supporting information targeted at healthcare professionals and patients designed to raise awareness of the initiative.Malnutrition defined as BMI<21 kg/m2, and/or weight loss>5% in 1 month and/or >10% in 6 months was particularly prevalent in nursing home residents, cancer patients, post-surgical patients, patients with Alzheimer's disease and the very old. In the period during and following the national screening week, there was a great deal of media attention for Nutri’Action in TV, radio, press and on the Internet.In 2007 Nutri’Action will become Nutri’Mission and will aim to re-emphasise malnutrition screening and appropriate nutritional intervention in nursing homes.