Diet compliance is very important issue in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD),
Diet compliance needs dietetic knowledge of patients and their families basically and families´ support. Therefore we studied about the dietetic knowledge level and educational needs of CAD patients and their families.
For this study, we developed the study tool from the literature review. This tool consists of two main categories, one is about general dietary guidelines and specific food information, and the other is about educational needs of CAD patients & their families.
The data were collected from 47 CAD patients and their families from June, 30 to to Semptember, 30, 1998. And they were analyzed using frequency, percentile, paired t-test, and ANOVA by SAS/WIN.
The results of this study were as follows ;
The results of the analysis of dietetic knowledge were as follows. In the general dietary guidelines, CAD patients´ knowledge level was lower than families´ in the importance of diet. And both patients and families had low knowledge level in the nutrition balance, protein intake, and relationship between fiber and cholesterol. In the specific food information, CAD patients´ knowledge level was low in protein-contained food, cholesterol-contained food, cooking method.
The results of the relationship between the knowledge level and the demographic characteristics were as follows. In patients, there were significant statistical differences in the knowledge level of general dietary guidelines according to age and educational level, and the knowledge level of food information according to sex. In families, there were significant statistical differences in the knowledge level of general dietary guidelines according to age and educational level, and the knowledge level of food information according to sex and age.
The results of the analysis of educational needs were as follows. Television was most common diet-etic knowledge source. The highest educational needs were about recommended/restricted food and daily menu in both CAD patients and their families. In th diet compliance, low-cholesterol diet was most difficult in both CAD patients and their families.
In conclusion, CAD patients and their families had high educational needs but insufficient concrete knowledge in such as recommended/restricted food, daily menu and cooking method. Nurses must be aware that it is necessary to establish an concrete dietetic educational program for CAD patients and their families.
|