Improving the Nutritional Quality of Microwave-vacuum Dried Strawberries: A Preliminary Study

Microwave-vacuum drying is an up-to-date technique for the conservation of fruits and vegetables, resulting in products with improved texture and colour. In order to evaluate the effects on the content of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity, three strawberry varieties were subjected to microwave-vacuum (MV) drying combined with convective pre- and post-drying, convective drying, and freeze-drying. The MV drying procedure comprised immersion in a pretreatment bath, pre-drying in a belt dryer to a moisture load of approx 45 g/100 g dry matter, and microwave treatment at 4 kPa for 8 min, leading to products with 5 g/100 g moisture. During post-drying, the moisture content was further reduced to approx 2 g/100 g. Convective drying and MV drying decreased the content of ascorbic acid to approx 40% of the initial value, phenolic compounds to approx 35%, and the antioxidative capacity to approx 60%. No reduction was observed in freeze-dried strawberries. Bypassing the pre-treatment bath, extending residence time in the pre-dryer to reduce temperature peaks, and reducing MV treatment time increased the recovery of ascorbic acid to approx 65%. Phenolic compounds remained stable, and the reduction of the antioxidative capacity was limited to 10% – 25%. Except ascorbic acid, the residual concentration of nutritionally relevant compounds after improving the processing conditions was close to the values as observed for freeze-dried products.

[Interprofessional cooperation in home care of disabled elderly patients. Results of a model project]

As is well known from experience, physicians, nurses, and other not-medical professions in ambulant care for elder people generally do not co-operate intensively, although there are many points of contact. With regard to this situation and the growth of the group of very old people, which request the further development of geriatric medicine and rehabilitation, a research project was realized in order to build up, improve and, as far as necessary, systematize inter-professional co-operation; this process was evaluated referring to the conditions and the effects of more intensive co-operation. This project led to several agreements concerning the improvement of co-operation; especially there are indications that the elder people in question are better cared for on the basis of intensive inter-professional co-operation and that avoidable expenses can be saved.

[Graduate and continuing education as a contribution to quality assurance in geriatric nursing--results of an empirical study on the current status and the need for change]

Efforts to improve the quality of care mainly depend on sufficient capacities of staff qualifications. Professional training is of primary importance to prepare for new tasks and to reduce educational deficits. The results of an empirical study carried out by the Federal Department of Family Affairs and the Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe showed that legal prerequisites are insufficient and not consensual among the different states. The offers of educational programs differ extensively, the market is changing topically and the teachers' qualifications can be judged as deficient.

[Current personnel status and qualification requirements in nursing care]

Efforts to improve the quality of care and to adapt the professional care giving structures to changing demands are mainly influenced by staff qualification. Based on a survey of empirical studies and data sets the present qualification structures on German home care services and nursing homes for the aged will be described. The results showed that the German care-giving system is characterized by a variety of professions and qualification structures. The changing paradigm of care-giving still showed no reflection in practical work. Furthermore, a variety of different educational and training programs of professional nurses impedes its professionalization.

[Aging in developing countries]

After presenting informations about the general life conditions in the less developed regions, the author concentrates on the term "syndrome of poverty", which have a great impact on the life conditions and the status of the elderly. Demographic data concerning the world population of all ages and the aged population in the more developed and the less developed regions follow.

[Terminal care as a topic in training in geriatric care: a report of experiences]

Beginning with a short survey of the present standard of death education of geriatric nurses the author describes experiences with the elaboration and evaluation of a death education programme. The process of working out a course based on a developed classification of educational goal which tries to realise special principles of adult education is discussed. Besides the problem of evaluating instruction units, the use of such possible methods as observation, questioning and assessment scales is described. Finally the results of the programme from the viewpoints of the observer and the participating geriatric nurses are described.