Neonatal Nutrition (Online)

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• critically assess the nutritional status and growth of the preterm infant from delivery to discharge and justify a range of nutritional management strategies
• critically debate the longer-term effects of early nutrition on growth and neurodevelopment
• demonstrate a systematic and comprehensive ability to critically discuss the key nutrients and their requirements for optimum growth and development of the newborn infant
• critically evaluate the goals, indications for use of and the essential nutritional components of parenteral nutrition and how it is used in practice
• demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the key role of maternal breast milk and it’s nutritional suitability for preterm nutrition and apply and justify this knowledge to practice

The syllabus will be delivered by a group of experienced neonatal clinicians with a special interest in neonatal nutrition. There is a focus on promoting discussion and debate regarding the diversity of approaches to nutritional management in this vulnerable group.

• functional and motor development of the gastro-intestinal tract
• scientific basis of nutritional needs and requirements for term and high risk infants
• principles and approaches to the introduction and subsequent management of enteral nutrition for high risk infants
• principles and approaches to the introduction and subsequent management of parenteral nutrition for high risk infants
• evaluation of the influence different feeding strategies may have on growth and neurodevelopmental outcome
• analysis of the nutritional status of infants at discharge and the need for the implementation of ongoing nutritional assessment and monitoring and management of weaning the preterm infant

Teaching and learning methods

The module will take a broad-based learner centred approach to teaching and learning methods, intending to promote deeper learning whilst meeting a range of learning styles. The core theoretical material will be delivered as online text “lectures” within a “Virtual Learning Environment” (VLE) and you will be allocated to discussion groups (“Discussion Forums”) which will be tasked with reflecting on, and discussing within the VLE, clinical scenarios which relate to the theoretical material. The groups will each include up to 15 participants and discussions will be directed and modulated by experienced tutors – two per group. While most of the discussions will be asynchronous – by leaving comments within the Discussion Forums - each group will also hold synchronous discussions, possibly once every two or three weeks, when they will “meet” together - online. These sessions will be facilitated by your group tutors, the module leader or the module developers. Where appropriate, “Plenary Sessions” will be included, which will allow you to share in discussions on nutritional topics.

A range of resource material, including links to relevant online sites, will be made available on the VLE. These methods will facilitate learning from text-based material, from participation in discussion and reflection with peers working in a range of different cultural environments. Specially developed case based studies will be explored to focus on the application of the lecture materials. Topics including the nutritional needs of preterm infants during their early neonatal course, period of growth on the unit and early weeks at home to develop strategies for nutritional management will be debated and evaluated.

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

2022 Enteral Nutrition In Preterm Infants: ESPGHAN Position Paper.

UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative.

Textbooks

Koletzko B., Poindexter B., Uauy R.. Nutritional Care of Preterm Infants, Scientific Basis and Practical Guidelines, volume 110. World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol 110. Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers..

Tsang R C., Uauy R., Koletzko B., & Zlotkin S H. (2014). Nutrition of the Preterm Infant: Scientific Basis and Practical Guidelines. Digital Educational Publishing.

Assessment strategy

The formative strategy will enable iterative formative written feedback to be provided with regard to your online activity. This will be completed by your online tutors and the module lead half way through the module. In addition, examples of the MCQ questions will be provided within the Assessment Office of the VLE.

The summative approach to assessment is designed to enable you to demonstrate your depth and breadth of neonatal nutrition knowledge as well as your ability to demonstrate the application of higher cognitive skills. It includes the following:

1. An unseen 2 hour online MCQ assessment examination. The aim will be to assess the depth and breadth of knowledge as well as your clinical judgement. This contributes 70% of your final mark.

2. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of your online activity and participation within your learning group. This contributes 30% of your final mark.

For successful completion of the module both elements of the assessment must be attempted and a pass mark of 50% or more must be achieved for each component

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External