A.S.P.E.N. Publishes Nutrition Support Patient Education Resource Manual (2008)
In a precedent offering, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) has compiled a Patient Nutrition Support Education Manual to assist with healthcare professionals’ verbal explanations concerning nutrition therapy options and procedures. This publication is a compilation of over 200 fact sheets from prestigious organizations and institutions.
The purpose of the 427 page manual is to provide clinicians (i.e. nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, pharmacists, health educators, etc.) with a compilation of some of the best patient education resources in the nutrition support arenas broadly encompassing enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, surgical procedures, medical conditions and pediatrics. Specific areas covered include parenteral and enteral access, complications of nutrition support, Medicare and Medicaid, enteral access devices and feeding methods, coping, care of feeding tubes, medication, surgery including gastrointestinal and transplant, medical conditions including gastrointestinal(G.I.) and diets to promote weight gain and maximize protein intake, nutrition considerations for patients with cancer, nutrition in the elderly, pediatric issues and Spanish materials that include parenteral and enteral nutrition, general nutrition and home nutrition support issues. A CD-ROM is included with the manual to assist with customization of the educational handouts.
The scope of the manual is far-reaching, appealing to clinicians who practice in home, hospital, infusion centers, physician’s offices, cancer centers, G.I. labs, sub acute and long term care facilities. The book is a multi-disciplinary approach to patient education in highly specialized nutrition support areas.
Reading levels and literacy were taken into consideration as all material was tested by a method developed by Dr. Laura Clayton called the “Tool for Evaluation of Material used in Patient Education (TEMPtEd)”. Materials were comprehensively evaluated for content, literacy, layout and graphics. Readability is between the 8th grade and the 16th grade reading level with the levels outlined in a table at the back of the manual for the various educational handouts.
The educational material is grounded in the experience and knowledge of clinicians recognized as experts in their respective fields. It is truly a one-of-a-kind and much needed manual. It may be ordered by going to A.S.P.E.N.’s website here.
About the author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
