New Tool Helps Assess Knowledge of Ketogenic Diet Therapy

Source: Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Summary

Researchers studied a new tool called the iKETO-KNOW Questionnaire, which was designed to measure how much adult patients and caregivers know about the ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) for epilepsy. This study involved 107 participants who were currently undergoing KDT treatment. The questionnaire was created by experts and tested for reliability, meaning it consistently provides the same results over time.

The key findings showed that most participants had a good understanding of the ketogenic diet and how to manage it. The questionnaire included questions about food knowledge and diet management, and it was found to be reliable in assessing knowledge. Interestingly, the study found that knowledge scores did not depend on factors like age, how long someone had been on the diet, or their specific type of epilepsy, suggesting that the tool can be used broadly across different groups.

This research is important because understanding the ketogenic diet is crucial for patients to stick to it and benefit from its effects on epilepsy. The iKETO-KNOW Questionnaire can help identify areas where patients and caregivers need more education, which can lead to better support and improved health outcomes. However, the study was limited to Italian-speaking participants, so more research is needed to see if the findings apply to other languages and cultures.

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