Support Groups

Support groups can be a very helpful tool for patients with iron deficiency anemia.  These groups provide not only additional educational information about iron deficiency anemia, but they also provide moral support through being a part of a community of people who struggle with similar health problems.  In these groups, people can find others with similar problems related to iron deficiency anemia and see how they have dealt with their treatment.  This sharing of knowledge is very beneficial for patients as they try to find what works best for them.



One support group for iron deficiency anemia is called the Anemia Support Group.  Located at http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Anemia/support-group,this group page provides information about iron deficiency anemia, as well as links to health blogs dealing with iron deficiency anemia.  Additionally, there are discussion posts created by others who had specific questions or problems dealing with different aspects of anemia, such as pernicious anemia, exercising with anemia, and even regarding their confusion about their labs.  These discussions in particular would be helpful for patients with questions about their health care.

Another iron deficiency anemia support group online is found at http://www.drugs.com/answers/support-group/iron-deficiency-anemia/, called Iron Deficiency Anemia Support Group.  This group is specifically used for the asking and answering of patient questions.  The website boasts of having "54 questions and 64 members," and the questions deal with issues like what medications and prescriptions are best, and how to recognize symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.

Finally, http://anemia.supportgroups.com/ is another online support group that provides information about iron deficiency anemia to the public.  It boasts of having 2,945 members, and the website allows for members to post anything from questions to how they are feeling, and for other members to comment on these posts.  This style of website creates a community of support between all people who suffer from iron deficiency anemia, helping people to not feel alone in their suffering.

Support groups are very useful tools for patients with iron deficiency anemia, and health care providers should encourage them to join one.

Apps

In the current culture, there is a high demand for technology that can be used in healthcare. Specifically, when it comes to individualized patient care, having technology that they themselves can use to better manage their health. Thus, apps for phones are a very useful tool for patients with iron deficiency anemia.

For instance, "to help those patients at a higher risk of developing iron deficiency monitor and maintain a healthy iron level, Professor Christian Breymann from the University Hospital of Zurich and Daniel Schöner, PhD, from ETH Zurich, have created myIRONfriend" (First).

This "app is dedicated to tracking iron levels and suggesting foods to combat iron deficiency" (First). Specifically, myIRONfriend "may be particularly useful for vegetarians or vegans to highlight alternative iron-rich products to replace meat and dairy groups absent from their diet. Only foods with relevant iron content figure in the list, providing an easy overview of good iron sources for the user’s daily meals" (First).

Another app that can be used by patients to help manage their iron deficiency anemia is an app called, appropriately, Iron Deficiency Anemia, made by Droid Clinic. This app has "complete information" of the disease, including "signs, symptoms, causes, treatment, diagnosis, epidemiology" and more (Iron). This app is specifically for Android phone users.



Finally, another app for managing iron deficiency anemia for iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and Android devices is The Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) Algorithm. This app is an "educational tool designed to increase your understanding of the diagnosis, investigation and management of iron deficiency anemia" (IDA).

All of these apps provide people with a resource for educational information about iron deficiency anemia that will allow them to better understand and manage their condition appropriately.

Works Cited:

The First Patient Smartphone App for the Prevention of Iron Deficiency in Women. (2015). Retrieved November 26, 2015, from http://ironresource.europeanironacademy.org/gyn-obs/first-patient-smartphone-app-prevention-iron-deficiency-women#

IDA App. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2015, from https://bloodsafelearning.org.au/resource-centre/other-resources/ida-app/

Iron-deficiency Anemia - Android Apps on Google Play. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2015, from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.disease.irondeficiency

Nursing Care

When providing nursing care for a patient with iron deficiency anemia, the most important aspect is making sure the patient and the family are well informed about the condition and the ways it can be corrected.

After the patient and family are educated about the causes of iron deficiency anemia, they can start taking the steps to fix the nutritional gaps with diet planning.  Nurses (or dietitians/nutritionists) can help with the creation of a meal plan that includes lots of food with iron, as well as Vitamin C.

If a doctor deems it necessary for a patient to also be taking iron supplements, a nurse can create a medication plan for the patient to follow that is the correct dosage and fits their lifestyle.

It is important for nurses to be able to recognize the signs and lifestyles that could point to iron deficiency anemia as a problem.  Additionally, it is important to know when basic diet changes or iron supplementation will not be, like in cases of hemorrhage that may require surgical consultation (Harper).

In the long term, follow up is necessary with patients to make sure they are responding to either their diet changes or medication.  The iron supplementation can be adjusted to better fit the needs of the patient if the original prescription does not work perfectly (Harper).


Works Cited:
Harper, J. (n.d.). Iron Deficiency Anemia. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/202333-overview#a7

Dietary Treatment Guidelines

Choosing iron-rich foods can reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia, and help to correct the problem.

Foods rich in iron include:

Red meat
Pork
Poultry
Seafood
Beans
Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach
Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots
Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas
Peas

Additionally, people can enhance the "body's absorption of iron by drinking citrus juice or eating other foods rich in vitamin C at the same time that you eat high-iron foods" (Iron).

Vitamin C is found in:

Orange juice
Broccoli
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Leafy greens
Melons
Oranges
Peppers
Strawberries
Tangerines
Tomatoes

People (usually older) on a "tea and toast" diet need to be educated about the gaps in their nutrition (Iron).

In infants, iron deficiency anemia can be avoided by feeding them either breast milk, or iron enriched formula.  Additionally, most baby cereals are iron enhanced (Iron).

However "on a worldwide basis, diet is the major cause of iron deficiency. However, to suggest that iron-deficient populations correct the problem by the addition of significant quantities of meat to their diet is unrealistic" (Harper).  In these cases, iron supplementation to existing food sources is required.


Works Cited:

Harper, J. (n.d.). Iron Deficiency Anemia. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/202333-overview#a7

Iron deficiency anemia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/basics/prevention/con-20019327