Development and analysis of acceptance of a nutrition education package among a rural elderly population: an action research study

Abstract

BackgroundIt is well known that older adults are often vulnerable to malnutrition. This action research was conducted to develop a nutrition education package for promoting healthy ageing and reducing risk of chronic diseases among older adults in a rural area of Malaysia.MethodsThis study was designed and conducted in three stages, including needs assessment, development of the package and analysis of acceptance among 33 older adults aged 60 years and over in rural communities, and 14 health staff members at rural health clinics. Subjects completed a questionnaire including sociodemographic factors and acceptance evaluation of the nutrition education package with respect to content, graphics and design. Data were analysed descriptively using numbers and percentages.ResultsA nutrition education package comprising a booklet, flipchart and placemats was developed. A total of 42.4% of the older adults expressed that the sentences in the flipchart needed to be simplified and medical terms explained. Terminology (60%), illustrations (20%) and nutrition recommendations (20%) were the aspects that prevented elderly subjects from fully understanding the booklet. Information on the placemats was easily understood by subjects.ConclusionsA well accepted nutrition education package for promoting healthy ageing and reducing risk of chronic diseases was developed that incorporated modifications based on feedback from older adult subjects and health clinic staff in a rural area. It is a tool that can effectively be used for health education in this population.

Development and Evaluation of a Booklet on Nutrition Education for Falls Prevention among Older Adults

“…This is probably because our present booklet contents were made as simple as possible for layman. For acceptability of booklet in terms of information provided, most of the older adults chose "satisfied" and this finding was in line with the study by Shahar et al (2012). Participation of the older adults and caregivers in the development of education material are very important.…”

“…For phase III, majority of the respondents chose "good" for acceptability of the booklet in terms of contents, tables and figures, writing, color, picture arrangement, content arrangement and language. Contradictory finding was reported by (Shahar et al 2012) where majority of older adults did not understand the contents in the booklet because of the terminology, followed by illustrations and nutrition recommendations. This is probably because our present booklet contents were made as simple as possible for layman.…”

A Nutrition Education Intervention for Anthropometric and Biochemical Profiles of Rural Older Malays with Metabolic Syndrome

“…The program was delivered via group counselling sessions, talks, and cooking and exercise demonstrations using the specifically developed healthy aging packages comprising a flipchart, five placemats and one booklet, which was based on the findings of the needs assessment study conducted previously (Siti Nur' Asyura et al, 2009). The development of the education packages have been detailed elsewhere (Suzana et al, 2012). Generally, the flipchart entitled "Nutrition Guide for Older People: Reducing Risk of Chronic Diseases" consists of specific nutrition and lifestyles guidelines to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including "Obesity management", "Guides to reduce fat and cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar", "Tips to increase fiber intake and appetite and also exercise guideline".…”

Fuel for Life: A Literature Review of Nutrition Education and Assessment Among Older Adults Living at Home

“…Study design varied with two randomized control trials 28,29 ; the remaining studies conducted were interviews, focus groups, and/or mailed surveys. Three studies were conducted in the United States, 26,29,30 two in Israel, 27,28 and one study was conducted in each of the following countries: Canada, 25 Malaysia, 31 and England. 32 Sample sizes among the studies ranged between 5 25 and 259 28 research participants.…”