Dietary management of patients with chronic liver disease and its effect on nutritional status

ABSTRACT

Providing adequate and appropriate nutrition is essential for the well being and support of patients with acute and chronic liver disease. Nutrient metabolism may be disturbed in these patients with severe consequences, and proper dietary management may modify and ameliorate the severity of liver disease and prevent complications. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of providing teaching interventions related to dietary management on nutritional status for patients with chronic liver disease. This study was conducted in medical department Menoufia University Hospital. The sample of this study consisted of all patients who attended the above setting with chronic liver disease of both sexes were selected for jthis study [60 patients]. Tools; the following tools were utilized to collect data; tool 1] Questionnaire to collect Socio-demographic and medical data ; tool 2] A pre-post test Questionnaire and tool 3] bio-physiological measurements to evaluate patients' nutritional status. Results of the present study revealed thatRegarding to the mean knowledge scores about the diet, an obvious improvement in knowledge about all items of diet with asignificantstatistical difference was found before and after conducting the intervention regarding total knowledge score. Also there was an obvious improvement in patient's nutritional status. The implementation of dietary management significantly improves patients' knowledge about diet and nutritional status. Special attention should be given regarding dietary education of patients' family members who have an active role in preparing patients' diet, Giving them book containing picture with simple explanation about therapeutic diet