Developing a nutrition education package for Malaysian hemodialysis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an education package with uniform nutrition messages appropriate for Malaysian patients undergoing hemodialysis.


METHODS
Nutritional problems and socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural, and religious factors influencing food habits of HD patients were considered in planning the package. The package comprised a Flipchart and 55 food Fotocards. The Flipchart used a modular format to target nutrition education in stages. The food Fotocards were designed to help the patient plan a daily menu and enjoy greater food variety. Photographs related to common food servings carried symbols for significant nutrient sources of energy, protein, fat, sodium, potassium, and phosphate. A traffic-light color system quantified potassium and phosphate content. The package was evaluated by 25 respondents, composed of nephrologists, nurses, dietitians, and patients.


RESULTS
Eighty percent of evaluators rated the Flipchart as good and 20% rated it as excellent, whereas 28% rated the Food Fotocards as good and 72% rated them as as excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
This package is a useful nutrition education tool for both health educators and dietitians to present first-line nutrition advice to patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Karupaiah
T
T
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. tilly@medic.ukm.my
Swee
C S
CS
Abdullah
R
R
D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005504:Food Analysis; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*