Improvements in nutrition knowledge among adults with physical disabilities: A program evaluation of the mindfulness, exercise, and nutrition to optimize resilience (MENTOR) program 2020-2021.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds a quality improvement (QI) health promotion telewellness program for adults with physical disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: The nutrition component of the parent program, Mindfulness, Exercise, and Nutrition to Optimize Resilience (MENTOR) program, from 2020 to 2021, was evaluated to assess changes in nutrition knowledge of people with physical disabilities.

METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental program evaluation by pre-post survey of participating adults with physical disabilities. Participants attended weekly nutrition classes for eight weeks with optional one-on-one counseling with a Registered Dietitian. Participants completed pre-post General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire Revised (GNKQ-R) that were analyzed using paired t-tests. Participants were grouped into quartiles by pre-program GNKQ-R scores for additional comparisons. Program attendance and post-program feedback were also evaluated.

RESULTS: A total of 286 participants completed the MENTOR program, and 31% (n = 89) completed pre-post questionnaires for data analysis. Mean pre-program GNKQ-R scores were 58.4 ± 15.1 and post scores were 64.4 ± 11.3, which demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in nutrition knowledge (p < .001). Ancillary analysis revealed that participants with the lowest quartile of pre-program nutrition knowledge had the greatest improvements in their post-GNKQ-R scores (Mean change 16.4 ± 13.9). Questionnaire data revealed participants' subjective knowledge changes and their feedback on the nutrition component of the program.

CONCLUSIONS: The eight-week MENTOR program effectively improved nutrition knowledge among people with physical disabilities. This demonstrates the impact the program can have on individual knowledge levels. Additionally, these results support the implementation of the program to the broader population of people with disabilities.