Target Population
The target population of My Food Coach includes people with CKD, diabetes or hypertension, due to their need to adjust their dietary plans and monitor their daily intake of nutrients. The app was developed by the National Kidney Foundation of the United States, but it is available in English and can be easily used by Indigenous Australians. In addition, healthcare professionals may recommend this app to their patients and control food quality to predict weight and kidney problems.
Benefits and Limitations
Evidence-based apps for individuals with specific health conditions have many benefits for self-monitoring related to keeping to a diet. The application provides options for customizing diets and plans depending on nutritional requirements, and it includes a large base of recipes and related food products, as is noted by researchers. Another benefit of this application is its availability for Android and iOS through the App Store and Google Play. Limitations are associated with the use of this application and the necessity to have a smartphone and Internet access, resulting in limitations for patients representing low-income groups and older patients. People may face certain difficulties in its utilization due to their poor education. To start using this app, a person needs to enter much personal information about vital signs and health conditions. It is hard to do without extra professional help. Finally, the location of a user has to be mentioned, and Australians can be challenged by surfing a possible zip code and other US-related information.
Resource Accessibility
Using this application, people with CKD will be able to plan their daily menus, adapt the provided recipes, and control their intake of not only protein, lipids, and sugar but also minerals and vitamins. Thus, patients will be able to use personalized nutrition information and create unique menus for weeks at a time. They can plan their eating habits, choose food and its quality, and improve health by a variety of means.
References
Diamantidis CJ, Becker S. Health information technology (IT) to improve the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). BMC Nephrol. 2014. (1): 7-10.
Campbell J, Porter J. Dietary mobile apps and their effect on nutritional indicators in chronic renal disease: a systematic review. Nephrology. 2015. (10): 744-751.
Klein J. Utilization of mobile nutrition applications by patients with chronic kidney disease. J Ren Nutr. 2019. (1): e5-e7.
Brauer A, Waheed S, Singh T, Maursetter L. Improvement in hyperphosphatemia using phosphate education and planning talks. J Ren Nutr. 2018. (2): 156-162.
Lambert K, Mullan J, Mansfield K, Owen P. Should we recommend renal diet–related apps to our patients? An evaluation of the quality and health literacy demand of renal diet–related mobile applications. J Ren Nutr. 2017. (6): 430-438.
Zoccali C, Mallamaci F. Moderator’s view: Low-protein diet in chronic kidney disease: effectiveness, efficacy and precision nutritional treatments in nephrology. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2018; 33(3): 387-391.