Evaluation of the effectiveness of nutrition education for patients with dementia

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of nutrition education program for caregivers of patients with dementia on the nutrition of the patient with dementia and the level of knowledge of the caregiver. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial in a pretest-posttest design. The study was conducted with 69 patients and caregivers (intervention group=31, control group=38). Data were collected from the intervention and control groups before and after the intervention using the Descriptive Information Form, Edinburgh Nutrition Evaluation in Dementia (EdFED) Scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Dysphagia Assessment Scale in Multiple Sclerosis and Sarcopenia Screening Test (SARC-F). The intervention group received a standardized training program for three months. Number percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, median and interquartile range values were used to evaluate the data. The difference between the two groups was assessed by the Mann-Whitney U test in independent groups. Change in dependent groups was evaluated with the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Results: The Nutrition Education Program in Dementia conducted for caregivers was found to be effective in improving the patient's nutritional status, sarcopenia, waist circumference, hip circumference, calf circumference and waist-to-height ratio, and increased the caregiver's knowledge of nutrition in dementia (p<0.05); it was found that it was not effective in reducing feeding difficulties and dysphagia and improving the decrease in body weight and body mass index (p>0.05). Conclusions: The results of the study showed that the Nutrition Education Program in Dementia conducted for caregivers was effective on patients and caregivers. Key Words: Dementia, caregiver, nutrition, feeding, education.