Malnutrition screening tool

Malnutrition screening tool (MST)

Welcome to the Malnutrition Screening Tool

Use the Malnutrition screening tool

Choose your language

This is a Malnutrition Screening Tool which helps us to know more about your weight and the food you eat.

Malnutrition can cause you to lose muscle and make your recovery longer. Your answers to the questions in the tool will tell us how we can help you to reduce your risk of malnutrition. Please choose the answers that apply to you.

Within the last 6 months, have you lost weight without trying?

You answered Yes, How much weight have you lost without trying?

Have you been eating less food than usual because you have not been hungry?

You Scored 1

Low risk

High risk

0=Low risk 5=High risk

Your score shows you are at a low risk of malnutrition.

If you do start to lose weight or eat less than usual, you might be at risk of malnutrition. If this happens make sure you tell your doctor or nurse.

Weight loss prevention fact sheet

To read about the importance of preventing weight loss for people with cancer, click here for a fact sheet in English. 391kb

Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) fact sheet

Reprinted from Nutrition, 15, Ferguson M, Capra S, Bauer J, Banks M, Development of a valid and reliable malnutrition screening tool for adult acute hospital patients, 458-64, Copyright 1999, with permission from Elsevier.

Note to reader: This series of culturally adapted Malnutrition Screening Tools have been developed by the Victorian Cancer Malnutrition Collaborative (VCMC) and funded by Western and Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (WCMICS).

Visit the new MST animation as part of the CanEAT pathway to help train and support staff in using the MST