Factors Influencing Meal Provision and Dietary Support Behaviour of Caregivers of People with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Georgina Lockwood; Lucimay Davey; Catherine McFarlane; Nicholas A. Gray; Hattie H. Wright

doi:10.3390/nu16203479

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Factors Influencing Meal Provision and Dietary Support Behaviour of Caregivers of People with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Journal article

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Factors Influencing Meal Provision and Dietary Support Behaviour of Caregivers of People with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Georgina Lockwood, Lucimay Davey, Catherine McFarlane, Nicholas A. Gray and Hattie H. Wright

Nutrients, Vol.16(20), pp.1-15

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16203479

PMCID: PMC11510062

PMID: 39458474

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

diet therapy

family caregiver

food literacy

nutrition knowledge

meal provision

dietary adherence

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.

Details

Title: Factors Influencing Meal Provision and Dietary Support Behaviour of Caregivers of People with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Georgina Lockwood - Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
Lucimay Davey (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health
Catherine McFarlane - Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
Nicholas A. Gray (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, UniSC Clinical Trials Centre
Hattie H. Wright (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Publication details: Nutrients, Vol.16(20), pp.1-15
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.3390/nu16203479
ISSN: 2072-6643
PMID: 39458474; PMC11510062
Copyright note: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Data Availability: The data supporting the reported results are available upon reasonable request and in accordance with the ethical principles.
Organisation Unit: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; UniSC Clinical Trials Centre; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; Cancer Research Cluster; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991066756802621
Output Type: Journal article

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