Course syllabus for Clinical Nutrition

Specific entry requirements

At least 60 credits from courses within the Bachelor's Programme in Nutrition Science, including 22.5 credits in chemistry courses (of at least 7.5 credits in biochemistry), and at least 5 credits from the course Cell and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Genetics. In addition, at least grade Pass in the courses Physiology, Anatomy and Histology and Nutritional Physiology within the Bachelor's Programme in Nutrition Science is required.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe key diesease mechanisms, including pathophysiological changes, in conditions where diet, eating behaviour, or specific nutritional treatment play a major role, and explain the relationship between these mechanisms and principal clinical symptoms.
• explain and justify the characteristics of treatment principles related to nutrition and eating that are recommended for each condition.
• describe and compare energy and nutrient requirements in different disease states and clinical situations, including situations with an increased risk of malnutrition and cachexia.
• explain the principles, indications and limitations of enteral and parenteral nutrition, and discuss their role in relation to oral nutrition in different clinical conditions.
• describe the basic principles of motivational interviewing (MI) and its role in patient-centred communication regarding diet, eating behaviour and lifestyle.
• search for, critically appraise, and compile scientific literature in writing within a defined topic in clinical nutrition.
• present, both orally and in writing, an in-depth project in clinical nutrition and discuss it from a patient-centred perspective.

Content

The course aims to provide knowledge of various disease states and an understanding of the importance of diet, nutrient intake and eating behaviour for health and clinical care. The course covers diseases in which nutritional treatment is of clinical relevance, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and gastrointestinal, liver and kidney diseases, as well as conditions in which eating behaviour or nutrient composition is central, for example food intolerances, inherited metabolic disorders and eating disorders. The course also includes an introduction to diet–drug interactions. In addition, the course comprises training in patient-centred communication through motivational interviewing (MI), as well as a project for in-depth study within clinically relevant areas. Teaching adopts a clinical and patient-centred perspective, with a primary focus on adults but including some elements relating to children, and aims to provide knowledge intended for nutritionists rather than clinical treatment competence.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, exercises and discussions, as well as an in-depth project with presentations.

Examination

The examination consists of a written exam (graded Pass/Fail) and an in-depth project (graded Pass with Distinction/Pass/Fail). To pass the course, all assignments must fulfil the criteria for Pass. To obtain Pass with Distinction on the course, the grade Pass with Distinction on the written exam is required.

In the case of a fail, the examination may be retaken a maximum of five additional times. If a student has failed an examination six times, no further examination opportunity will be offered for that examination. For the in-depth project, a failed assignment may be complemented in order to achieve a pass. If the student does not complete the complementation within the specified time, the grade Fail will be awarded. A student who has failed an examination twice is entitled to have another examiner appointed unless there are special reasons to the contrary.

Compulsory participation:
Seminars, presentations and some exercises are compulsory. The examiner assesses if and, in that case, how absence from compulsory parts can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence according with the examiner's instructions, the student's study results cannot be finalized. Absence from a compulsory activity may result in that the student cannot compensate absence until the next time the course is given.

If there are special reasons, or need for adaptions for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to depart from the syllabus's regulations on examination form, number of examination opportunities, possibility of complementation of or exemption from compulsory activities, etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities must not be altered, removed or lowered.

Other directives

Parts of the teaching may be conducted in English.

Literature and other teaching aids

Mandatory literature:

• Modern nutrition in health and disease. Tucker K, Duggan CP, Gordon, LJ, Peterson KE. (red).12th edition. Jones and Bartlett Publishers Inc., 2024. ISBN: 9781284264432

In addition, articles and other course materials will be available electronically.