Patient
Introduction: patient care practice
The issue of ADHD and its relation to food has been a concern for quite a while. In their recent study, Plesser et al. (2008) have raised the topic in question once again. According to the outcomes of the study, the daily intake of food must be controlled in ADHD patients so that no deterioration of their health status should occur. However, because of the lack of courses on specific factors, the study could use some improvements.
The significance of change
The importance of change cannot be underrated. Unless an alteration of the research course takes place, the synapse between food and ADHD progress will remain obscure. To be more specific, certain factors must be isolated and studied closer.
Intervention
At present, there is an obvious necessity for a change in the research design, as well as the nursing approach chosen for addressing the issue. Although the overall course for the intervention has been going in the right direction, the study needs to be geared towards less biased research with a better focus on the significance of specific factors in enhancing the possibility of ADHD, such as color additives.
Comparison
Alternative A: synthetic color additives
According to the existing studies, there are other ways of looking at the subject matter. For instance, some researches point to the necessity to evaluate the effects of synthetic color additives on the development of ADHD (Sonuga-Barke et al., 2013). Other articles mention the possibility for integrating the factor of RED (Rommelse & Buitelaar, 2013) and low-IgG (Plesser et al., 2011) foods into the study, therefore, making a strong statement concerning the negative effects of artificial food (Kleinman, Brown, Cutter, DuPaul, & Clydesdale, 2011) on the development of ADHD in children.
Alternative B: a rating scale
It should also be noted that some research participants may be unwilling to reveal the actual data concerning their diet. The specified phenomenon may occur especially in the setting that involves interviewing the parents of young participants. Herein the need to incorporate a rating scale that will provide objective, though somewhat vague data emerges (Skokauskas, McNicholas, Masaud, & Frodl, 2011).
Outcome
Expected outcomes of change
It is expected that the effects of color additives on ADHD development will be proven. Specifically, group B is expected to display considerable progress in ADHD treatment. Moreover, a significant increase in positive emotions is also viewed as possible (Skokauskas et al., 2011).
Significance of change to nursing practice
The change may have major effects on the nursing practice. To be more exact, the dietary principles of ADHD patients’ treatment may be altered. Specifically, the exclusion of food containing synthetic coloring additives and inclusion of natural products into the ADHD patients’ meals is expected.
Time
Plan for change implementation
It is expected that new theories concerning the significance of factors such as RED should be tested. Thus, it is suggested that the additional analysis of the factors involved should be followed by forming the groups of participants, who will be observed over the course of the research. In the process, Group A will be provided with regular food, whereas Team B will be supplied with food that is rich in IgG and low in RED and synthetic color additives. The observation will supposedly take around six weeks, whereas the analysis of results will be carried out in a week.
Schedule and further suggestions
It should be noted that time is of the essence in the specified setting. Therefore, it is desirable that the research should take around a month. Thus, the data retrieval should be carried out within the first several weeks. The incorporation of a rating scale in the research design is bound to help conduct the basic mathematical analysis.
Reference List
Kleinman, R. E., Brown, R. T., Cutter, G. R., DuPaul, G. J., & Clydesdale, F. M. (2011). A research model for investigating the effects of artificial food colorings on children with ADHD. Pediatrics, 127(6), 1575–1584.
Plesser, L. M. J., Franken, K., Toorman, J., Savelkoul, H. F., Dubois, A. E., Pereira, R. R.,…. & Buitelaar, J. K. (2011). Effects of a restricted elimination diet on the behaviour of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (INCA study): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 377(9764), 494–503.
Plesser, L. M. J., Frankena, K., Toorman, J., Savelkoul, H. F. J., Pereira, R. R., & Buitelaar, J. K. (2008). A randomised controlled trial into the effects of food on ADHD. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 18(1), 12–19.
Rommelse, N. & Buitelaar, J. (2013). Is there a future for restricted elimination diets in ADHD clinical practice? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 22(4), 199–200.
Skokauskas, N., McNicholas, F., Masaud, T., & Frodl, T. (2011). Complementary medicine for children and young people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 24(4), 291–300.
Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S., Brandeis, D., Cortese, S., Daley, D., Ferrin, M., Holtmann, M.,… & Sergeant, J. (2013). Nonpharmacological interventions for ADHD: Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of dietary and psychological treatments. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(3), 275–289.