Exploration of Nutritional Concepts among Patients of Chronic Liver Diseases and Their Health Care Providers

摘要

Background: Nutrition in chronic liver disease (CLD) is an important area of research that could have an influential role on morbidity and mortality. To date, no clear guidelines were established for nutrition in CLD. Aim of the work: to assess the thoughts of patients and the knowledge of their health care providers about nutritional concepts in CLD. Patients & methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled two groups; patients group involving 350 CLD patients and health care providers group (involving 32 physicians and 31 nurses). All participants answered a validated questionnaire about nutritional knowledge (for health care providers) and behaviors (for the patients). Results: The majority of the patients (96.9%) denoted receiving nutritional advices from physicians. There was no role for nurses in nutritional education of patients. Proteins, lipids and minerals have the main interest in physicians' advices in frequencies of 93.4%, 96%, and 92.9%, respectively. Patients were taking proteins of plant rather than animal origin in amounts less than they need fearing of its complications. Another notable misconception was the intake of large amounts of carbohydrates. Dealing with lipids was the best by patients (only 19.7% were taking high amounts of lipids). But minerals, specially iron were restricted by large number of patients due to misconceptions. Conclusion: There are many misconceptions about nutrition in the majority of patients with CLD, and to lesser extent in their healthcare providers. Emerging of Egyptian nutritional guideline that highlights improving the dietitian role in nutritional services in our hospitals is mandatory for a sensible achievement in this area in the future.