523 Role of the Dietitian Methods Sarcopenia and Ageing Aim Results Reference: 523 Title: The enhanced role: should dietitians be prescribing exercise advice? Authors: Stacey Jones, Deborah Lycett, Michael Duncan, Jane Goodfellow Workcenter: Coventry University, United Kingdom Role of the Dietitian The role of the dietitian can cover a wide scope of practice. With growing financial pressures on the NHS to provide care, role flexibility and extension of professional role boundaries is promoted1 The modern NHS vision is to empower health care professionals to take on roles outside of their remit which were once considered medical roles1 Dietitians are seen as experts in the field of nutrition; however are not often considered as providers of advice on physical activity, particularly in the elderly Methods Target audience: HCPC Registered Dietitians Inclusion criteria: Working with older people over 50 years old in the community setting AND Involved in providing nutritional support advice Qualitative methodology: Focus groups 6-8 participants Nominal Group Technique6 Theoretical and convenience sampling: Dietitians from West Midlands NHS trusts and BDA specialist groups: PENG and Older People and WM BDA branch Recruitment: Via email invitation to West midlands Dietetics departments. Email to BDA specialist groups, advertisement in BDA monthly newsletter, Twitter and Facebook promotion Data collection and analysis: Focus groups recorded with Dictaphone and transcribed verbatim Thematic analysis and coding of themes Peer review of codes and member checking to increase rigor Sarcopenia and Ageing With an aging population, sarcopenia is fast becoming a geriatric syndrome leading to increased frailty, reduced quality of life, independence to carry out activities of daily living, and increased susceptibility to illness2 Direct costs associated with sarcopenia in the US in 2000 were estimated $18 billion1,3 Combined exercise and nutrition programmes have been found to be most effective at improving markers of sarcopenia in older adults4,5. Figure 1. Quadriceps MRI scan of a 40 year old triathlete compared with a 70 year old triathlete and a 74 year old sedentary man7 Aim To explore the barriers reported by dietitians to providing specialized prescriptive exercise interventions to elderly frail patients alongside usual dietetic interventions. The study will assess four key themes: Current practice relating to exercise interventions for elderly patients How dietitians perceive their role in prescribing exercise advice in this patient group Perceived barriers to dietitians providing specific or prescriptive exercise advice for elderly patients as part of dietetic intervention Needs for dietitians to be able to incorporate prescribed physical activity as part of usual dietetic care Results Data is due to be collected over Summer 2016 therefore results will be analysed and available early 2017 Stacey Jones HCPC Registered Dietitian Member BDA Coventry University @dietercise References: Stanley, W. and Borthwick, a. M. (2013) ‘Extended Roles and the Dietitian: Community Adult Enteral Tube Care’. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 26 (3), 298–305 Landi, F., Liperoti, R., Russo, A., Giovannini, S., Tosato, M., Capoluongo, E., Bernabei, R., and Onder, G. (2012) ‘Sarcopenia as a Risk Factor for Falls in Elderly Individuals: Results from the ilSIRENTE Study’. Clinical Nutrition. 31 (2012), 652-658. Sakuma, K. and Yamaguchi, A. (2013) ‘Sarcopenic Obesity and Endocrinal Adaptation with Age’. in International Journal of Endocrinology. 2013. 1-12 Campbell, W.W. (2007) ‘Synergistic Use of Higher-Protein Diets or Nutritional Supplements with Resistance Training to Counter Sarcopenia.’ Nutrition reviews. 65 (9). 416-422. Robinson, S, Denison, H, Cooper, C, Aihie Sayer, A (2015) ‘Prevention and optimal management of sarcopenia: a review of combined exercise and nutrition interventions to improve muscle outcomes in older people’. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 10. 859. Williams, P.L, White, N, Klem, R, Wilson, S.E, Bartholomew, P. (2006) ‘Clinical education and training: Using the nominal group technique in research with radiographers to identify factors affecting quality and capacity’ Radiography. 12 (3) 215-224 Wroblewski A, Amati F, Smiley M, Goodpaster B, Wright V. Chronic Exercise Preserves Lean Muscle Mass in Masters Athletes. The Physician and Sports medicine. 2011; 39,3