ABSTRACT
Diabetes self-management education is crucial in diabetes care. Education that is tailored to the needs of the patient is considered the most effective in improving health outcomes. Diet; a critical element of diabetes treatment; is reported as the most difficult to adhere to by both patients and health professionals. Tailored nutrition education (NE) could benefit diabetic individuals with low socio-economic status; who are amongst those noted to have poor health outcomes. This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study aimed to explore and describe the NE needs of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to guide development of a tailored NE programme for resource-poor settings. Participants were 31 non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetic patients (convenience sample) and 10 health professionals. Focus group discussions using semi-structured questions were held with the diabetics; and open-ended self-administered questionnaires were used with the health professionals. Data analysis was done using Krueger's framework approach. Disease-related knowledge deficits and inappropriate self-reported dietary practices; including intake of unbalanced meals; problems with food portion control and unsatisfactory intake of fruits and vegetables; were observed. Recommendations for the NE programme included topics related to the disease and others related to diet. Group education at the clinic; a competent educator and comprehensive education were indicated by the patients. Participation of family and provision of pamphlets were aspects recommended by patients and health professionals. Barriers that could impact the NE included financial constraints; food insecurity; conflict in family meal arrangements and access to appropriate foods. Support from family and health professionals and empowerment through education were identified as facilitators to following dietary recommendations by both groups of participants. Knowledge deficits; inappropriate dietary practices and barriers are issues that need addressing in an NE programme; whilst the suggestions for an NE programme and facilitators to dietary compliance need to be incorporated
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus , Health Education , Nutritional SciencesABSTRACT
"Background: South African dietitians are confronted with the challenge of effectively marketing themselves as a sound source of information on nutrition to both the public and other health professionals. The marketing initiative should focus on the promotion of both the profession itself and individual practices. The aim was to assess the perception of South African private practising clinical dietitians of the relevance of service-specific healthcare marketing principles and communication elements (within the ambit of Act 53 of 1974). The design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey in the quantitative domain. Convenience sampling was used (n = 79). Method: Data were collected by means of an electronic questionnaire. The response rate was low (16.8); and the results could not be generalised. Results: The dietitians seemed more focused on the science of nutrition; than on marketing their profession and individual practices. There was an overall awareness of the need for marketing in the dietetic private sector; but the importance and implementation thereof did not receive the amount of attention that it justifies. A number of service-specific healthcare marketing principles received ""slightly relevant"" or ""not relevant"" ratings.Conclusion: For the dietetic profession to reach its full potential in South Africa; and for dietetic private practices to be successful on all levels; dietitians need to focus more of their time and energy on business-related aspects such as marketing. By integrating the theory from the literature with the findings from the study; a profession-specific marketing flow diagram and recommendations could be proposed."