Perceptions about eating experiences of low‐literate older adults with heart disease: a qualitative study

Abstract

Because of their low literacy, these older adults had difficult life experiences, gained inappropriate or inadequate eating information and held a passive, fatalistic perspective about eating with heart disease. Healthcare practitioners caring for this population need to appreciate their unique eating challenges and respect their eating customs. Nurses could play a greater role in educating and supporting low-literate older adults in selecting appropriate foods and preparing meals. Strategies to help this population learn to select, prepare and cook their food should be easy and practical, using specific symbols, concrete signs and simple labels.

Perceptions and experiences of nutritional care following the overwhelming experience of lower extremity amputation: A qualitative study

“…A 2015 review found that peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with longstanding poor dietary diets and habits (Nosova, Conte, & Grenon, ) indicating a need for dietary advice to form part of the treatment for people with PAD. Although we did not investigate the participants’ previous eating habits, our findings indicate a need to increase dietary counselling provision for older populations as they can face challenges in complying with current dietary recommendations and may be unaware of government‐endorsed dietary guidelines (Chen, Shyu, Ko, Kung, & Shao, ; Brownie & Coutts, ). The dietary perspectives presented in our study also suggest an ambiguity among the participants between the awareness or understanding of the importance of the diet and rejection of healthy food and hesitation to make changes in lifestyle or dietary habits.…”

Development and evaluation of a dietary self‐management programme for older adults with low literacy and heart disease: pilot study of feasibility and acceptability

“…The programme was developed based on our qualitative findings (Chen et al . ), a systematic literature review, clinical practice experience and expert opinion. The programme included the following activities: observe and learn new dietary SM strategies, set attainable goals and specific strategies, self‐monitor and record daily eating activities and self‐evaluate the effectiveness of strategies using a booklet.…”

“…For older adults with heart disease in Taiwan, those with low literacy have difficulty following dietary suggestions regarding their heart condition (Chen et al . ). Patients with chronic conditions need to be fully involved in managing their care and health and SM has been well‐established as an important strategy in health care (Lorig & Holman ).…”

Barreras estructurales en la atención nutricia a personas con enfermedad renal crónica en México

“…Health professionals play a key role in the management and control of the disease, including the nutritional therapy of those with CKD. Scientific evidence suggests that nutritional therapy may serve as a barrier (Chen et al, 2016;Terranova et al, 2017) or as a facilitator in care (Lambert;Mansfield;Mullan, 2018;Terranova et al, 2017).…”