Impact of a Camp Experience on Phenylalanine Levels, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Health Beliefs Relevant to Nutrition Management of Phenylketonuria in Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of an education intervention in a summer camp setting on knowledge, attitudes, and health beliefs regarding metabolic control of phenylketonuria and dietary compliance. Design An observational study of a weeklong metabolic camp for adolescent girls with phenylketonuria (PKU) who were followed up over the course of 1 year. Observations also were made in 3 subsequent years of camp. Intervention The camp experience consisted of diet and disease education, sessions on reproductive development, and recreation. Group discussions on attitudes and perceptions about PKU related to dietary compliance were held with nutritionists and a pediatric psychologist. Outcome measures Biochemical and psychological data were collected on the first and last days of the camp to assess short-term effects of the intervention, then at quarterly intervals during the year to determine the long-term impact of the camp. Precamp and Postcamp plasma amino acid data for the subsequent 3 years were also collected. Subjects/setting Analyses were based on 13 adolescent girls with PKU in the first year of a camp at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga, and compared with data from 11 additional campers enrolled the second year, 8 in the third year, and 7 in the fourth year. Mean age±standard deviation of first-year campers was 13±2 years, mean IQ±standard deviation was 98±16, and 9 of 13 girls had menstruated. Statistical analyses performed Short-term effects of the intervention were computed by comparing mean levels of response from the baseline period to those from the last day of camp using t tests for dependent samples. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess the long-term effects of the camp experience over the course of a year at regular quarterly intervals. Results Short-term effects of the education intervention were significant reductions in dietary phenylalanine intake, plasma phenylalanine levels, and perceived isolation. However, these effects progressively returned to baseline levels over the course of a year. The significant short- and long-term effects of increased knowledge of diet and disease persisted throughout the study period. Applications/conclusions Short-term effects of the education intervention resulted in improved metabolic control associated with improved attitudes, increased knowledge of diet and disease, increased perceived support, and decreased barriers to dietary compliance in a camp setting. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100:797-803.