DEVELOPMENT AND ADAPTATION OF DIETARY ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR ELDERLY IN GEORGIA.

The maintenance of health, functional independence and quality of life in elderly requires adequate understanding of nutrition needs of older people. The aim of our study was to search and analyze dietary assessment tools existing in modern medical literature intended to evaluate the nutritional status, in order to compile and develop adapted adequate questionnaires for elderly people of Georgian population. Our research is the first study of the elderly nutrition in Georgia. We have analyzed more than 150 questionnaires of 15 types and selected the standard methods for daily and usual eating assessment, also, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF). For final adaptation purpose of selected and compiled/developed questionnaires we have used the study group formed for the nutritional status assessment in Georgian healthy elderly (Study group ≥ 60 y (n=75) - men (n=14) and women (n=61); Subgroup <75 y (n=64) - men (n=9) and women (n=55); Subgroup 75+ y (n=11) - men (n=5) and women (n=6)). The compiled/developed questionnaire consists of 3 parts: 1. Historical Data - includes elements of Health/Medical, Social-Economic, Drug/Medication and Diet histories; 2. Multiple-Pass approach 24-hour Recall (5 steps, 4 nonconsecutive days); 3. Adapted Food Frequency Questionnaire - 42 item non-quantitative or semi-quantitative, open-ended, "face-to-face" interviewer-administered questionnaire. Compiled and developed adequate questionnaire for elderly people of Georgian population allows Georgian medical professionals to use of ready-made reliable/relevant dietary assessment tools in practice. Adaptation of the adequate approach considering specificity of Georgian population is the successful experience for farther studies, also, the best motivation for Georgian practitioners or researchers on proceed to develop these tools.