PATIENT EDUCATION: TEACHING THE PATIENT WITH CELIAC DISEASE ABOUT A GLUTEN-FREE DIET

Course overview

Celiac disease (CD; also known as celiac sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which ingestion of gluten, a group of proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley, results in an inappropriate immune response that causes atrophy of the villi in the small intestine, resulting in diarrhea and malabsorption of nutrients. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of the procedure for providing patient education about CD, including a step-by-step process and the benefits of patient education on this topic. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.