Nutrition education for members of the Multiple Sclerosis Achievement Center (MSAC) focuses on overall health and prevention or management of comorbidities. Monthly nutrition education is provided on diverse aspects of dietary habits and strategies related to the challenges of living with MS. Program participants have the option to receive additional nutrition education through individual or small group discussions.
Examine dietary changes of people living with MS who participate in a day wellness program over an 18-month period to determine if habit changes vary with the type of nutrition education: general MSAC programming vs additional small group.
MSAC members completed the Rate Your Plate (RYP) questionnaire biannually beginning in August 2018. RYP is a self-reported food-frequency questionnaire that consists of 27 items focusing on different categories of food consumed. Each answer is assigned a score of one, two, or three points with composite scores ranging from 27-81; higher scores indicate healthier choices. Between questionnaires, members received monthly nutrition education with the opportunity to receive additional resources from a nutrition educator. Data was assessed using mean scores, standard deviations, and paired t-tests to examine changes between the 6 month periods. Only members with at least 2 data points were included in analysis.
At least two rounds of data were completed by 70 members: 52 completed four rounds and 27 participated in individual or small group programs. The mean baseline score for the entire cohort was 59.71 (SD= 8.68) with increases at 6-months and 12-months: 62.70 (SD=7.76) and 63.91 (SD=7.11), respectively. The mean score at 18-months was 63.39 (SD=7.62). Statistically significant changes were seen between 6-months and 12-months (p<0.04) for general MSAC programming. For those receiving additional small group education, mean baseline score was 57.93 (SD=8.74) with increases at 6-months and 12-months: 62 (SD=8.47) and 62.87 (SD=8.00), respectively. Mean score at 18-months was 62.35 (SD=8.21). Statistically significant changes were seen between baseline and 6-months (p=0.008) and baseline to 12-months (p<0.002) with additional small group programs.
More frequent individual or small group education has a significant impact on changes in dietary habits compared to a general education program. In addition, these changes occur earlier in the nutrition education program. Further analysis is required to determine if these changes correlate with specific curriculum topics.