Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

4788

Date

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Clinical Nutrition

Committee Chair

Ruth Williams-Hooker

Committee Member

Lee Wallace

Committee Member

Dale Bowman

Abstract

Limited parent/caregiver (P/C) knowledge regarding BCAA inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) could negatively impact patients' serum BCAA levels, resulting in adverse health outcomes. This study's purpose was to identify relationships between P/C's demographics and understanding of BCAA IEM to patient's serum leucine level. Participants included P/C and patients with a BCAA IEM. During patients' appointments, questionnaires were administered to P/Cs eliciting understanding of BCAA IEM and demographics. Regression analyses estimated relationships between P/C understanding of BCAA IEM and demographic factors to patients' serum leucine levels. No correlation was observed between P/C understanding of BCAA IEM and patient's serum leucine level. However, number of children in the household, P/C age, and P/C's employment status were significant, and potentially predictive of patient's leucine levels. Despite possible relationships of these demographic factors to patient's leucine levels, it is imperative that P/Cs adhere to disease-management recommendations to ensure their children's best health outcomes.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Download

Share

COinS