'Have you had your bowl of rice?': a qualitative study of eating patterns in older Taiwanese adults.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore the eating patterns of older Taiwanese adults.


BACKGROUND
The number of older adults in Taiwan is increasing and they have been shown to have poor nutritional status. However, little attention has been directed at uncovering eating patterns among this population as part of their aging process.


METHODS
To explore older Taiwanese adults' eating patterns, a qualitative research design was chosen.


METHODS
Eating patterns of older Taiwanese adults were explored in narrative interviews conducted from April-June 2007. Of the 156 participants who participated in a larger correlational, cross-sectional study, 58 agreed to answer one open-ended question about their eating patterns. All interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis.


RESULTS
Analysis of interview data identified three major categories: 'eating and old age', 'eating and faith' and 'eating and family harmony'. Subcategories in each major category included 'achieving good health', 'upholding old customs'; 'depending on God/fate', 'enjoying later life'; and 'following the family eating rules', 'self-sacrificing for the family', respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Older Taiwanese people adopt eating patterns not only for health reasons, but also in keeping with their faith and the need to preserve family harmony. This research supports and contributes to understanding the eating patterns of older adults in Taiwan.


CONCLUSIONS
Disseminating these findings may increase nurses' awareness of nutrition issues in older adults. Older Taiwanese adults' eating patterns centred on family values. Nursing intervention programmes, therefore, should address key family members involved in food preparation. Our findings also suggest that older adults followed old customs in their eating practices. Nurses are suggested to acknowledge and respect these customs as special food needs of older adults.
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Su-Hui
SH
Chen
Jung-Hua
JH
Shao
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013624:Taiwan