Developing and testing a programmed instruction unit on PKU.

The methods used in developing and evaluating a programmed instruction unit on PKU and its dietary management are presented. The unit was shown to be a reliable, valid, effective, and enjoyable teaching aid for parents. All ten mothers using the text showed improvement in their post-test scores, and analysis by correlated sample student t-test demonstrated that the increases were highly significant (p of less than 0.0005). In addition, the mothers' responses to the learning experience were notably favorable. All enjoyed the text and strongly recommended its use for new families in the Clinic. The results indicate that programmed instruction may also be useful in other areas of patient nutrition education. Although not substitutes for the one-to-one counseling provided by nutritionists, such tools offer effective, self-paced, and individualized instruction which can be utilized by patients in their own homes.