Association of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with health related quality of life and disease state of HIV infected patients.

The literature on the potential clinical and non-clinical benefits of participation in food assistance programs for people living with HIV in developed countries is scarce. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 165 HIV infected adults to determine the impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on HIV disease status and health related quality of life (HQROL). There was no significant association between SNAP participation and disease status; CD4 cell count (ß = 0.02, P = 0.837) and viral load (ß = 0.02, P = 0.836). The mean scores for all the HRQOL domains were lower compared to the US population, but none were associated with SNAP participation. Higher scores on the general health domain, were marginally associated with SNAP participation (ß = 0.16, P = 0.071). In this study, SNAP participation was not significantly associated with less disease progression, and only marginally associated with quality of life among this population of HIV infected individuals.

Aging in introductory and life cycle nutrition textbooks.

The aging content in 11 undergraduate nutrition textbooks (8 introductory, 3 life cycle) was evaluated using content analysis. Repeated measures ANOVAs with Bonferroni post hoc procedures and t- tests were used. The 259 relevant pages largely focused on geriatrics (physiological decline, chronic diseases). Gerontological aspects were underemphasized. Mean number of pages on aging was significantly higher in life cycle (M = 37) than in introductory textbooks (M = 18), t (9) = 3.42, p < .008. In introductory textbooks, mean percentage of pages on aging (M = 3.2%) was significantly less than for maternal (M = 4.6%) and childhood topics (M = 6.2%), p < .05. Overall, topic omissions included discussion of ageism, death, dying, and dignity; and end-of-life decisions related to nutrition and hydration. Women and minorities were proportionately represented in generally positive photographs. Aging terminology was 81% neutral (older, aging), 14% negative (impaired, senile), and 5% positive (active, independent). These textbooks may not help students acquire the broad knowledge needed to work with older adults or develop positive attitudes about aging. Recommendations for authors, publishers, and instructors are provided.