Prof. Heather Keller, Safura Syed, Cindy Wei and Rachael Donnelly attended the hybrid (in-person and virtual) Canadian Nutrition Society's 2022 Annual Conference from May 5-7 in Gatineau, Quebec.
Projects Presented
Cindy Wei
Cindy presented two posters highlighting some of her thesis work looking at social interaction, loneliness and nutrition risk among community-dwelling older during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poster 1: Loneliness was Associated with Nutrition Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Canadians at the End of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Summary: We examined phone- and online-survey data from a randomly recruited cohort of ~272 ≥65-year-olds in Hamilton, Ontario. Loneliness was associated with nutrition risk in older adults after the first wave of the pandemic, but self-reported mental health and receiving assistance with meal delivery or preparation were not.
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Poster 2: Calls and Social Media Use are Associated with Change in Nutrition Risk During COVID-19 for Community-Dwelling Older Canadians
Summary: Phone- and online-survey data from a cohort of randomly recruited older adults (≥65 years of age) at baseline and nine-month follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic were used. Low/reduced frequency of using social media was associated with improved nutrition. Conversely, low/reduced frequency of making/receiving phone calls was associated with worsening nutrition.
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Safura Syed
Safura presented findings from the Wet Your Whistle (W3) project describing how hydration education modules improved long-term care and retirement staff member knowledge and attitudes towards hydration.
Poster: Wet Your Whistle with Water Hydration Education Module Improves Staff Knoweldge and Attitudes
Summary: Care team members play an important role in maintaining resident hydration. A hydration-specific education module was completed by team members with pre- and post-questions for evaluation. Team members who completed the education module had significant improvements in hydration and fluid knowledge and attitudes. This education was an effective intervention.
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Rachael Donnelly
Rachael presented survey findings investigating rates of nutrition risk screening rates, registered dietitians' reported barriers and facilitators to screening and at hospital discharge.
Poster: Dietitian Perspectives on Nutrition Screening Rates, Barriers, and Facilitators in the Community and at Hospital Discharge
Summary: Screening in primary and community care can detect and prevent nutrition risk. Community and hospital discharge nutrition screening practices were reported via an online survey. Respondents desired to undertake nutrition screening, but additional resources and guidance are required to standardize, implement, and coordinate the process, and to overcome barriers.
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Infographic: Focus on Fibre
This infographic was awarded 3rd place in the CNS "Nutrigraphic" competition
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Awards
Two Nutrition & Aging Lab members also received an award at the 2022 conference:
- Prof. Heather Keller was awarded the Earle Willard McHenry Award for Distinguished Service in Nutrition. This is an annual prestigious award is given for merit in teaching, in inspiring students and colleagues, in providing leadership through professional associations leading to progress in nutrition, in giving administrative or material support towards the development of outstanding nutrition/nutritionally-oriented programs, in research achievement.
- Rachael Donnelly was awarded third place in the "Nutrigraphic" CNS Infographic competition for her infographic Focus on Fibre.
Congratulations to both Prof. Keller and Rachael on these amazing achievements and great job to all lab members who presented their work at CNS 2022 Annual Conference!
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