Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Nancy S Wellman

Publications and source records attributed to Nancy S Wellman.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Dietetics students' low knowledge, attitudes, and work preferences toward older adults indicate need for improved education about aging.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined students' knowledge and attitudes about aging and their interest in working with the older adult population in the United States. DESIGN: A 97-item questionnaire included demographic items, a ranking section on work preferences by age groups, and two validated scales: the Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz, and the Oberleder Attitude Scale. SUBJECTS: Those surveyed were enrolled in the 10 largest universities in the 5 states with the largest population of older adults: California, Florida, New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Of 555 questionnaires that program directors requested for their class(es), 299 completed questionnaires were returned. This 54% return rate was affected by program directors requesting more questionnaires than needed. Of the 299 dietetics/nutrition students who completed the survey, 65% were in the 18 to 22 year age range, 91% were women, 81% were non-Hispanic white, and 81% were seniors in college. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Pearson's correlation was applied to test for relationships between knowledge and attitudes; t tests for differences in knowledge, attitudes, and work preferences by age, gender, and experience with older adults; and Tukey's multiple comparison test for differences in knowledge, attitudes, and work preferences by state. RESULTS: Students had low knowledge about aging (Palmore, mean percent correct +/- standard deviation = 40.1%+/-13.0%) and neutral attitudes toward older adults (Oberleder, mean score = 69.1+/-8.2). When asked which of 10 age groups they preferred to work with, respondents ranked the 3 oldest age groups (65 to 74, 75 to 84, 85 and older) lowest on average (6.0, 7.3, 8.6, respectively). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: More didactic instruction about aging and more positive experiences with older adults through fieldwork may be needed to prepare future practitioners to provide nutrition services to this increasing population segment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Family caregiver training is needed to improve outcomes for older adults using home care technologies.

Family caregivers, although uncompensated, provide daily care for more than 75% of the older adults who are dependent on home care technologies such as home enteral nutrition. The high complication rates and poor outcomes seen in older adults suggest that being an effective caregiver requires specialized training in home care technologies, and dietitians need to be more actively involved in discharge planning and follow-up home care. The level of knowledge and skill mastery required for technology-dependent care, along with the chronic, intensive nature of family caregiving and the disruptions in caregivers' daily lives, lead to negative emotional and physical consequences that may interfere with caregivers' ability to do caregiving well. Recognizing that care recipients and caregivers are underserved populations, dietitians should develop their professional competencies and expand their roles in technology-dependent home care. Dietitians can thereby contribute to better outcomes for both family caregivers and older home care recipients.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Content analysis: review of methods and their applications in nutrition education.

Content analysis is a set of qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting and analyzing data from verbal, print, or electronic communication with numerous applications in nutrition education research. Textual information from interviews, focus groups, and open-ended survey questions can be evaluated using content analysis. Selection of method(s) depends on the type(s) and length of material to be analyzed, results desired, and researchers' preferences and technological capabilities. This article reviews options available to content analysts--from manual to fully computerized. Overcoming the challenges inherent in using these methodologies is recommended because of their usefulness in the information-based messaging discipline of nutrition education.

Data Collection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutrition education may reduce burden in family caregivers of older adults.

The chronic, demanding nature of family caregiving for frail older adults creates a high degree of stress for caregivers, called caregiver burden. Caregiver burden compromises caregivers' emotional and physical health and health-promoting behaviors. Deterioration in caregivers' health and nutritional status may put caregivers at risk for chronic disease, diminish the ability of caregivers to provide care, and impair the quality of life experienced by caregivers and care recipients. Nutrition education may help reduce caregiver stress and maintain caregivers' health and well-being. Mediating caregiver stress may allow family caregivers to meet their societal role, which has intensified because of health care cost containment.

Aged↗