Testing the impact of an educational intervention designed to promote ocular health among people with age-related macular degeneration

Stevens, Rebekah; Cooke, Richard; Bartlett, Hannah

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2017. Research has shown that individuals affected by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) do not always consume foods or supplements known to be beneficial for ocular health. This study tested the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to promote healthy eating and nutritional supplementation in this group. A total of 100 individuals with AMD completed baseline measures of several variables: confidence that diet affects AMD, motivation to engage in health-protective behaviours, knowledge about which nutrients are beneficial, and intake of kale, spinach, and eggs. Participants were allocated to either intervention or control conditions. Intervention participants received a leaflet and prompt card that contained advice regarding dietary modification and supplementation. Control participants received a leaflet created by the Royal College of Optometrists. A follow-up questionnaire, measuring the same variables assessed at baseline, was administered 2 weeks later. At follow-up, significant condition × time interactions were found for confidence that diet affects AMD (F(1, 92) = 4.54, p < .05), motivation to talk to an eye professional about supplementation (F(1, 92) = 4.53, p = .036), motivation to eat eggs (F(1, 92) = 12.67, p = .001), and egg intake (F(1, 92) = 11.97, p = .001). In each case, intervention participants scored higher than control participants. Receiving an educational intervention increased participants’ confidence that diet affects AMD, motivation to engage in health-protective behaviours, and egg intake. This intervention could be easily incorporated into current clinical practice delivered by either optometrists or ophthalmologists.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 1, 2017
• Online Publication Date: May 17, 2018
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 18, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 19, 2018
• Journal: British Journal of Visual Impairment
• Print ISSN: 0264-6196
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-5809
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 110-127
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619617735144
• Keywords: AMD, diet, intervention, nutrition education
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/868609
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0264619617735144
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Copyright(c)2018 Reprinted by permission of SAGE publications.
• Contract Date: Jun 18, 2018