Efficacy of Diet Consultation through Online and Offline Platforms to COVID Inpatients and Non-COVID Outpatients

Abstract

Current pandemic has brought technological advancements in nutrition intervention methods and diet consultations, which was taken into consideration for analyzing the efficacy of different approaches. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of diet consultation through online and offline platforms to COVID inpatients and non-COVID outpatients and to understand the impact of consultation methods on the dietary intake of patients. Retrospective data from a tertiary care multispecialty hospital in Central Kerala were collected after obtaining ethical clearance. Online diet recall of COVID inpatients (n=302, follow-up n=277) and non-COVID outpatients (n=14, follow-up n=5) through telephonic, e-mail, and WhatsApp and offline or direct consultation for outpatients (n=298, follow-up n=28) were conducted and data collected. ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction or sphericity assumption, post hoc tests using the Bonferroni correction, standard deviation, significance test using p-value, and percentage analyses were the statistical parameters used for the study. The results revealed that proper diet consultation and follow-up may bring about changes in nutritional status of all categories of patients. Online method was more consistent in follow-up when compared to offline method. During COVID period, patients opting for online diet consultation increased. Both COVID inpatients and non-COVID outpatients who were consistent with online follow-up were showing significant nutritional changes and those who had offline consultation lacked regular follow-up. Digital health intervention measures have more scope than conventional methods in the current pandemic.