Evans, Sharon, Ashmore, Catherine, Daly, Anne, Dhadwar, Perninder, Syed, Atif, Lecocq, Olivia, Jackson, Richard, Pinto, Alex and MacDonald, Anita
(2022)
Efficacy of a New Low-Protein Multimedia Diet App for PKU.
NUTRIENTS, 14 (11).
2182-.
Abstract
Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) require a phenylalanine/protein-restricted diet, with limited food choice. Interpreting food labels, calculating protein intake, and determining food suitability are complex and confusing tasks. A mobile multi-media low-protein diet app was developed to guide food choice, label interpretation, and protein calculation. ‘PKU Bite’® includes >1100 specialist and regular low-protein foods, is colour-coded for suitability, and features a protein calculator. A 12-week randomised controlled trial assessed app efficacy, compared with written/pictorial material, in 60 parents/caregivers of children with PKU, aged 1−16 years, and 21 adolescents with PKU. Questionnaires examined self-efficacy and label-reading knowledge; food records evaluated natural-protein intake, compared with prescriptions. There was no difference between groups in label-reading knowledge or self-efficacy, but there was a trend for improved accuracy of dietary protein calculation, when using the app (baseline/12-weeks: app 35%/48%; control 39%/35%). Parents of children <10 years of age (median 5.5 years), were most likely to use the app to check the phenylalanine/protein content of a food or to verify suitability of foods. Whilst the app was popular (43%), so too was contacting the dietitian (43%), using written/pictorial information (24%), or using social media (18%). This is the first dietary app for PKU to be studied in a systematic way as well as validated by healthcare professionals. It is a useful adjunct to existing resources and will be a valuable tool for educating parents of younger children.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | app, low-protein diet, multimedia, phenylketonuria (PKU) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Jan 2024 11:23 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Jan 2024 11:41 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/nu14112182 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14112182 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178138 |
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