Erro em antropometria aplicada à avaliação nutricional nos serviços de saúde: causas, consequências e métodos de mensuração

Abstract

Objective: To discuss anthropometric errors in health services, their implications in nutritional diagnosis, main causes, and methods of measurement. Methods: To subsidize the discussion, we considered the anthropometric data of preschool children collected by three health professionals and a Supervisor (gold standard) during training in anthropometry. We also reviewed national and international literature on the subject. Results: Errors in anthropometry may be derived from the equipment used, adequacy of the measurement environment, training level of the health professional, and issues inherent to the individual assessed. The most commonly used methods to measure such errors are Standardization and the Technical Error of Measurement, which are distinguished by the rigor in the evaluation of professionals, interpretation of results, and the possibility of multiple analysis of measurement quality. Such distinctions were observed in this study, in which the degree of precision and accuracy varied for the three evaluators, according to the method adopted. The choice of the method will depend on the public involved and the intended purpose. Conclusions: Evaluation of measurement errors in anthropometry is an important tool to highlight the need for training and qualification of professionals in nutritional assessment