Caregiver-Involved Nutrition Education in Down Syndrome

Hülya YILMAZ ÖNAL

Status: Completed

Conditions: Down Syndrome

Treatments: Behavioral: Caregiver-Involved Nutrition Education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07330128

2024/1, dated 23 January 2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

This single-arm, quasi-experimental pre-post study evaluated an 8-week online nutrition education program for individuals with Down syndrome and their caregivers in Ataşehir, Istanbul, Türkiye. Thirty-one individuals with Down syndrome and 31 caregivers (n=62) completed the program. Dietary behaviors, 3-day dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, and caregiver nutrition literacy were assessed before and after the intervention.

Full description

Participants were recruited through the Turkey Down Syndrome Association (Ataşehir, Istanbul). Eligible participants were individuals with Down syndrome who could express preferences and caregivers with sufficient digital skills to complete online procedures. Although 39 individuals initially agreed to participate, the study was completed with 31 individuals with Down syndrome and their caregivers (n=62) after exclusions for eligibility and continuity.

Data were collected using a Down Syndrome Individual Information Form, the Nutrition Behavior Scale, a 3-day dietary intake record (including one weekend day; analyzed in BeBİS), a Caregiver Information Form, the Adult Nutrition Literacy Assessment Tool, and Down syndrome-specific growth charts (Zemel et al., 2015; 2-20 years).

The intervention consisted of an 8-week basic nutrition education program delivered via live video conferencing. Individuals with Down syndrome received weekly sessions of approximately 15 minutes focusing on food groups, healthy eating principles, reducing sugary/packaged foods, increasing daily physical activity, and adequate water intake. Caregivers received four modules of approximately 30 minutes covering healthy eating principles, food groups, physical activity, common comorbidities and metabolic changes in Down syndrome, and key considerations in nutrition therapy. Illustrated and graphical slide materials were shared during sessions and sent to caregivers afterward via online messaging.

Enrollment: 62 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 66 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Volunteered to participate and provided informed consent (caregiver/parent consent).

Individuals with Down syndrome who were able to express their preferences. Caregivers/parents with sufficient digital knowledge and skills to participate in online procedures and training sessions.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with Down syndrome and/or caregivers/parents who did not have sufficient digital knowledge and skills to participate in online procedures.

Individuals with Down syndrome and/or caregivers/parents who did not maintain continuity in the study (e.g., did not complete the intervention and/or pre-/post-assessments).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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62 participants in 1 patient group

Nutrition Education (Caregiver-Involved)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received an 8-week online nutrition education program. Individuals with Down syndrome attended weekly sessions (\~15 minutes) focusing on understanding food groups, adopting healthy eating principles, reducing sugary/packaged foods, increasing daily physical activity, and emphasizing adequate daily water intake. Caregivers received four modules (\~30 minutes each) covering healthy eating principles, food groups, physical activity, common comorbidities and metabolic changes in Down syndrome, and key considerations in nutrition therapy. Sessions were delivered via live video conferencing with slide-based materials shared during sessions and sent afterward via online messaging.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Caregiver-Involved Nutrition Education