Find the Etiology Nutrition Care Can Change

Etiology answers why this nutrition problem exists

Etiology is the root cause or most useful causal contributor to the nutrition problem. It belongs after related to in a PES statement. Keep it distinct from the other parts. The problem is the standardized nutrition diagnosis label. Signs and symptoms are the evidence proving that problem exists. A medical condition describes pathology and may contribute, but often does not explain the actionable nutrition mechanism. An intervention is the planned action and should not be written as the cause. For inadequate oral intake, reduced appetite caused by persistent nausea may be an etiology; intake at 40 percent of estimated needs is evidence; pancreatic cancer is medical context; and small frequent meals with symptom coordination is an intervention. A clean separation matters because the etiology should point directly toward what nutrition care will try to change.