In a latest examine revealed in Nutrients, researchers reviewed current proof on using know-how in managing the vitamin of older adults.

Study: A Scoping Review of Nutrition Health for Older Adults: Does Technology Help? Image Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock.com

Background

In the United States (US), 25% of the inhabitants is aged ≥ 65, and plenty of can not use know-how. However, research report that computer-based evaluation programs and assistive robots can enhance vitamin consciousness in older populations.

Physiological adjustments in musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological programs are a part of getting old and main elements in age-associated power diseases.

An optimum food plan can improve lifespan and independence and cut back healthcare prices. Health standing could differ amongst older folks; know-how might assist handle this variability and the vitamin care course of. Government-funded meal and well being assist packages are meant to handle the dietary standing of older folks.

Besides, registered dietician nutritionists (RDNs) may help optimize the dietary standing of older adults. Nevertheless, there are limitations to accessing RDNs and vitamin companies, comparable to dwelling in rural areas, low financial standing, and disabilities. Technological interventions may be promising to beat these limitations.

About the examine

In the current examine, researchers analyzed the obtainable proof on using know-how for managing the vitamin of older adults.

They searched a number of databases for peer-reviewed research, comparable to Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Business Source Elite, and Abstracted Business Information (ABI)/INFORM assortment. Studies had been eligible in the event that they included older folks and evaluated vitamin administration know-how.

Titles/abstracts had been screened, and full texts of related research had been reviewed. Relevant information had been extracted from the included research.

The kind of know-how within the included research was categorized as sensible gadgets, home-based sensors, health gadgets, webcams, cellular system sensors, pill computer systems, telephones, smartphones, software program functions, video-conferencing, or assistive robots.

Data on research’ dietary areas of focus had been 1) weight and physique composition, 2) evaluation, monitoring, and monitoring (of dietary behaviors), 3) training/counseling, 4) vitamin standing, 5) food plan consumption and high quality, and 6) actions of each day dwelling. Target end-user was outlined primarily based on the power and readiness to make use of know-how and self- or provider-use of know-how.

Findings

The researchers recognized 254 research from the preliminary search and 52 further research from secondary sources (references inside research). After de-duplication and screening, full texts of 79 research had been reviewed, and 44 had been included for evaluation.

These included commentaries, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research, opinions, randomized managed trials, future analysis, and interventions.

Quantitative research assessed digital applied sciences relative to standard strategies for vitamin information acquisition. Qualitative and mixed-method research analyzed the experiences of finish customers in addition to digital vitamin interventions.

Target populations in research additionally included older adults with lung transplantation, prediabetes, diabetes, cognitive impairment, or elevated physique mass index (BMI).

Forty-one research evaluated community-dwelling older people. About 51.1% had been end-users with self-use of know-how. Thirty-one research used software program functions to evaluate, observe, and monitor well being outcomes, together with dietary consumption, amongst older adults. Besides, some research used sensors and different gadgets.

Software functions had been accessed utilizing pill computer systems in 21 research and smartphones or cellular gadgets in seven. One examine assessed how assistive applied sciences (robots and cellular gadgets/home-based sensors) might overcome sarcopenia in getting old.

Most research investigated a number of areas of vitamin, comparable to dietary consumption/high quality, counseling, vitamin evaluation, monitoring, and monitoring.

Multiple research addressed how know-how might assist preserve older adults’ independence. Five research relied on know-how to enhance the dietary standing of older adults with malnutrition and people in danger.

A couple of research described tailor-made meals to enhance vitamin. Other research assessed how know-how might study/observe food plan high quality, consumption, and adherence.

Conclusions

Taken collectively, the authors reviewed obtainable proof on using applied sciences to assist the vitamin of older adults. Software functions had been essentially the most predominately used know-how. However, there was an absence of standardized software program for older adults.

Although most research didn’t explicitly specify web utilization, it was pervasive. Of observe, solely half of the tip customers engaged in self-use of know-how.

Moreover, though research from the previous 21 years had been analyzed, 86% had been performed between 2016 and 2020, underscoring that analysis on vitamin, geriatrics, and know-how is comparatively new.

Overall, the findings recommend that analysis on using know-how by older adults for vitamin is in its infancy, and extra research are essential to increase the information base.