Examining the Perspectives and Experiences of Nutrition Educators Working with Clients in Substance Use Recovery Settings

Substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the most detrimental health, social, and economic problems in the United States. Limited studies suggest providing tailored nutrition education during SUD treatment correlates with positive recovery outcomes. The University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program conducted two focus group sessions to explore and determine educators’ instructional and programmatic needs who deliver nutrition education to clients in substance use recovery throughout Kentucky. The study team identified four emerging themes and several subthemes related to Nutrition Education Program educators working with clientele in recovery. The four emerging themes included: (1) current experiences working with the audience, (2) relevant components in the current curriculum, (3) suggested new and expanded resources for future curriculum, and (4) guidance to assistants new to the audience. Our research findings contribute to the development of new programmatic materials that are better suited to meet clients’ needs in recovery and ultimately improve SUD recovery outcomes. With increased knowledge on this emerging research topic, the University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program will directly benefit Kentucky residents who suffer from SUD and experience its detrimental social and health implications

Early nutritional programming to enhance the utilization of plant based diets in fish (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides)

Aquaculture has been the fastest growing animal food-producing sector for over half a century. Sustainable aquaculture should include replacement of fish-based feed sources by plant-based ingredients. However, this approach is often impeded by poor growth in carnivorous fish such as largemouth bass (LMB, Micropterus salmoides) fed high levels of plant-based protein. Therefore, our overall goal of the present work was to develop alternative methods of utilizing the plant-based diets (PBD) for sustainable LMB production. When fish is exposed to PBD early in their life, they may accept them more efficiently at later stages (so called Nutritional Programing, NP). Therefore, we conducted a 3-phase (6 weeks each, 18 weeks total) feeding trial to evaluate the NP of a PBD in LMB (Figure-1). On phase I, fish-larvae stocked into tanks 1 and 2 were fed a fishmeal-based diet (FM) or a soybean-meal-based diet (SBM), respectively. On phase II fish from each tank were divided into 2 tanks (tanks 3 and 4, respectively). Fish in tanks 1 and 2 continued to be fed the FM and SBM diets, while fish in tanks 3 and 4 were fed SBM and FM diets, respectively. On phase III, tanks 1 and 2 remained unchanged, while fish in tanks 3 and 4 were fed the FM and SBM diets, respectively. At the end of the study, no statistically significant differences were found for growth performance and whole-body proximate composition of fish. However, blood analyses revealed that LMB in tank 1 (fed FM throughout the study) had higher alanine amino-transaminase and lower blood phosphorus than other groups. The liver, muscle and intestine samples were collected for further physiological study and will be presented. Overall, this study developed an alternative method of utilizing the PBD at early stage of life, which can reduce the cost of largemouth bass production

Examining the Perspectives and Experiences of Nutrition Educators Working with Clients in Substance Use Recovery Settings

Substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the most detrimental health, social, and economic problems in the United States. Limited studies suggest providing tailored nutrition education during SUD treatment correlates with positive recovery outcomes. The University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program conducted two focus group sessions to explore and determine educators’ instructional and programmatic needs who deliver nutrition education to clients in substance use recovery throughout Kentucky. The study team identified four emerging themes and several subthemes related to Nutrition Education Program educators working with clientele in recovery. The four emerging themes included: (1) current experiences working with the audience, (2) relevant components in the current curriculum, (3) suggested new and expanded resources for future curriculum, and (4) guidance to assistants new to the audience. Our research findings contribute to the development of new programmatic materials that are better suited to meet clients’ needs in recovery and ultimately improve SUD recovery outcomes. With increased knowledge on this emerging research topic, the University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program will directly benefit Kentucky residents who suffer from SUD and experience its detrimental social and health implications

Assessment of learning styles and learning retention among the elderly population in Frankfort, Kentucky

Abstract With the advancement of medical knowledge in the United States, people are living longer; therefore, the elderly population is growing. Due to this change in age dynamics, designing efficient and effective systems for delivering health services to older people is needed. One of the main concerns is the development of positive nutrition and lifestyle education, since many older adults have not received proper health education throughout their lives. Consequently, they are unaware of what qualifies as healthy practices. Upon receiving healthy lifestyle and diet education, elderly persons are more likely to practice proper diet and lifestyle practices. With newly gained knowledge, the elderly can care for themselves, improve their health status, and avoid unnecessary and costly nursing homes, hospitals, or in-home assistance. To fulfil this goal, educators must realize that older people do not learn the same way or process information the same as younger individuals. The elderly face many challenges, such as cognitive decline, chronic age-related diseases, and physical limitations including vision and hearing impairments. Educators must incorporate alternative teaching methods that can effectually engage and motivate elderly individuals to improve their diet and lifestyle habits. By using personalized learning methodologies that account for these physical, auditory, and visual impairments, through the use of: visual aids, loud speech, engaging games that correlate with lessons, and food demonstrations, we observed an increase in nutrition knowledge and diet modification attitudes. In conclusion, customized education is key for helping older adults maintain good health and independent functioning