Welcome to the Outpatient GI Nutrition section. This will cover the four parts of the Nutrition Care Process (Assess, Plan, Implement, and Evaluate) for patients and clients living with various gastrointestinal illnesses followed in outpatient settings. Please follow along with the case study for Christian in the coloured boxes to practice. There are also interactive activities throughout the section to check your learning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the section you will be able to:

1. Identify where to gather clinical, anthropometric, psychosocial, biochemical, and dietary data necessary to complete a nutrition assessment for a client living with GI diseases or conditions.
2. Understand the pathophysiology and diagnosis of four GI diseases: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Celiac Disease, and Diverticulitis.
3. Identify education and recommendations for individuals living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Celiac Disease, and Diverticulitis.
4. Identify strategies to improve symptoms in individuals living with IBS and GERD.
5. Understand the roles of the members of the interdisciplinary team.
6. Evaluate the nutrition care plan using assessment data relevant to the client nutrition concerns, including symptom management, diet changes, medications, supplements, lifestyle factors, and physical activity.
7. Recognize effective strategies, such as motivational interviewing (MI) and SMART goal setting, to provide education and support behaviour change.