Nutrition Knowledge and Confidence Levels of Parents of Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Optimal growth and nutrition status predict better lung function and longevity for children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Daily nutrition therapy for children with CF requires adequate food resources, parental knowledge of nutrition and behavior management, and confidence in one's ability to apply the skills. The Mountain West Cystic Fibrosis Consortium Questionnaire (MWCFC-Q) was designed to identify educational intervention targets to improve the growth and nutrition of children with CF. Parents of children with CF returned 305 anonymous MWCFC-Qs. Data analyzed included household food security, knowledge of nutrition and general CF therapies, and self-confidence in one's ability to manage components of CF care. Factors associated with food insecurity were reported by 26.3% of respondents. The median accuracy for questions regarding nutrient content of commonly used foods was 71.4% and 57.9% for CF nutrition therapy. Parents’ self-confidence in overall CF management was relatively high at a mean value 8.28 ± 1.22 of 10 possible. However, mean self-confidence in the CF nutrition domain was significantly less than mean self-confidence for the CF-related tasks domain, which included chest physiotherapy and medication administration (7.75 ± 1.56, 8.62 ± 1.24, P < .001, respectively). Parental knowledge of nutrition for CF and confidence in the application of this knowledge can improve the growth and nutrition status of children with CF. Identification of food security issues may enable health care professionals to adjust nutrition interventions and direct families to appropriate food resources. The MWCFC-Q could be useful for designing and testing educational interventions for nutrition management of CF. © 2009, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.