Greene GW et al. – This study determined the effects of demographic, anthropometric, cognitive, functional, psychosocial, or behavioral variables in elderly patients on Dietary Screening Tool (DST). A greater degree of negative affect and reduced self–efficacy to fruits and vegetables consumption were observed in older adults at risk. Thus, elderly patients can be assessed by DST, suggesting clustering of health concerns among those at risk.

Methods

• In this cross–sectional study, a total of 255 community dwelling elderly patients underwent an interviewer survey including DST and other measures.
• Variable–dependent risk categories were examined by multiple analyses of variance and x2 analyses followed by interpretation of a logistic regression equation.

Results

• A total of 49%, 26%, and 25% of participants were at possible risk, no risk, and at risk, respectively, with less chance of at–risk participants to be in the action/maintenance stages of change (P<.01).
• There was a low fruit and vegetable intake and self–efficacy satisfaction with life and resilience in at–risk participants, the features being independent predictors of risk as evident from logistic regression.