Allied Health, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Birtinya, QLD 4565, Australia.
School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.
Nutrients. 2024 Oct 14;16(20):3479. doi: 10.3390/nu16203479.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Caregivers play an important role in supporting care recipients to navigate their health needs, including adherence to dietary recommendations, which are complex and multifaceted. This study aims to (i) describe the nutrition knowledge of caregivers of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and (ii) explore caregivers' perceptions of their role in providing healthy meals and nutrition support for care recipients.
A cross-sectional study design employed a multi-strategy research approach. Caregivers (n = 78) of people with stage 1-5 CKD or post-transplant were recruited from a single centre. Their nutrition knowledge was assessed quantitatively with the revised General Nutrition Knowledge questionnaire. Theory-informed semi-structured interviews of a sub-sample (n = 12) qualitatively explored caregiver perceptions.
Most caregivers were female (75.6%) and cared for a male care recipient (87%; aged 74 (66; 80) yrs.). The caregivers (75.6%) provided a meal ≥6 times/week to their care recipient and had moderate nutrition knowledge (66.1 (60.5; 73.9)%). Four themes emerged describing the caregivers' perceptions of meal provision and nutrition support, including the following: (i) food literacy skills are valued; (ii) social support is important; (iii) caregivers' sense of social responsibility; and (iv) the management of complex and multifaceted dietary needs.
The caregivers had moderate nutrition knowledge; they wanted to provide healthy meals and support to their care recipients to adhere to dietary recommendations. Targeted, co-designed nutrition education programs for caregivers may enhance nutrition care delivery to people with CKD.
背景/目的：照顾者在支持护理对象满足其健康需求方面发挥着重要作用，包括遵守饮食建议，这是复杂和多方面的。本研究旨在：（i）描述慢性肾脏病（CKD）患者照顾者的营养知识；（ii）探讨照顾者对为护理对象提供健康餐食和营养支持的角色认知。
采用横断面研究设计，采用多策略研究方法。从一个中心招募了 78 名 CKD 1-5 期或移植后患者的照顾者。他们的营养知识通过修订后的一般营养知识问卷进行定量评估。对一个子样本（n=12）进行了理论启发式半结构化访谈，定性探讨了照顾者的认知。
大多数照顾者为女性（75.6%），照顾男性护理对象（87%；年龄 74（66；80）岁）。照顾者（75.6%）每周至少为护理对象提供 6 餐，并具有中等营养知识（66.1（60.5；73.9）%）。出现了四个主题描述照顾者对膳食提供和营养支持的认知，包括：（i）重视食物读写能力；（ii）社会支持很重要；（iii）照顾者的社会责任感；和（iv）管理复杂和多方面的饮食需求。
照顾者的营养知识中等；他们希望为护理对象提供健康餐食和支持，以遵守饮食建议。针对照顾者量身定制、共同设计的营养教育计划可能会增强对 CKD 患者的营养护理提供。
