Identification of the types of nutrition resource kit needed by community living elderly in Malaysian health clinic setting

• Main Authors: Noor Azam, Iman Nabihah, Hamirudin, Aliza Haslinda, Harith, Sakinah, Md Aris, Mohd Aznan, Abd. Aziz, Karimah Hanim, A Rashid, Nurul Syaireen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2021
• Subjects: RM216 Diet Therapy. Clinical Nutrition
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/94022/1/3rd%20WCII%20_Published%20abstract.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/94022/; https://medic.upm.edu.my/jurnal_kami/malaysian_journal_of_medicine_and_health_sciences_mjmhs-9255?L=en

Malnutrition risk and nutritional inadequacy are high among the elderly population. The development of nutrition resource kit that provides nutritional guidance could be beneficial in improving the dietary intake of this population. There is limited study on the availability of nutrition resource kit that can be used to overcome and prevent malnutrition among Malaysian elderly. This study aimed to identify the types of nutrition resource kit needed by community living elderly in Malaysian health clinic setting. This study was conducted among community living elderly that received primary healthcare services from four health clinics in Kuantan, Pahang. Elderly aged ≥60 years old were recruited for in-depth interview according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Semi-structured interview questions addressed the knowledge on existing nutrition educational materials, preference for types of nutrition resource kit and opinion on technology-based materials. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Nvivo software version 12.0. A total of 21 older adults (mean age= 67.24 ± 6.98) were interviewed individually. Five key themes were identified from the data: 1) Provision of nutrition resource kit, 2) Preference for printed version, 3) Eye-friendly, 4) Facilitate understanding with diagram, and 5) Support for technology-based materials. The analysis also revealed that majority of elderly preferred for A5-sized booklet for nutrition resource kit. The development of nutrition resource kit tailored to the need of elderly is required to convey nutritional guidance with the inclusion of technology effectively. The resource kit will be an important reference for the elderly to overcome malnutrition.