Purpose Adopting meat reduction strategies within the UK is fundamental to limiting environmental damage and achieving public health benefits. This paper aims to compare the attitudes to adopting meat reduction strategies within the general population and people with a link to agriculture to understand attitudes to meat reduction. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional self-administered questionnaires were disseminated using online fora, community groups and by attending agricultural marts. Questionnaire development was informed by current literature, and structured around four theoretical domains: knowledge, social/cultural influences, beliefs about consequences and intentions to change and a food frequency questionnaire for meat consumption. Inclusion criteria were people > 18 years, living in the North East of Scotland. In total, 470 adult participants, from within the North East of Scotland, were recruited. The study population was divided into two groups, individuals with a link to the agricultural economy (n = 174) and the general public (n = 296). Findings The general public group were more willing than the agricultural community to adopt meatless meals (or were doing so) [55.1% (n = 162) vs 28.1% (n = 49), p < 0.001]. Barriers to change included habit, limited choice when eating out, resistance of family members, lack of information, income related to meat consumption and the status of meat within a meal. Men were less likely to choose meatless meals than women (23.8%, n = 36, vs 55.1%, n = 176, p < 0.001). Originality/value Meat reduction strategies should be tailored appropriately to population groups, with an understanding of social and political drivers, and further studies investigating barriers within the agricultural economy are warranted.

Practice placements are key to the training of an allied health professional, supporting the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge, allowing the development of key skills and enculturation to a professional role. Practice placements in dietetic pre-registration training have largely focussed on clinical/health care settings, with the students based in dietetic departments. Current developments in integrated health and social care provision in the United Kingdom mean there is a compelling need to develop a workforce equipped to work across sectors to effectively support people's nutritional needs. Against this background, a partnership group of healthcare and managerial professionals, representing NHS Education for Scotland (NES), NHS Highland (NHSH), a private care home group based in the North of Scotland and Robert Gordon University worked together to pilot and develop a model for the placement of student dietitians within social care settings (initially care homes). This novel approach embeds students in a social care setting for part of their placement rather than having them based within a dietetic department. The placements were positively evaluated and widely shared via Allied Health Profession (AHP) blogposts and in publications such as the Care Inspectorate newsletter, and other Scottish Health Boards are now developing local models of dietetic social care placements. There is a recognition that practice placement models should prepare the dietitians of the future for working beyond NHS environments, and that alternative models of placement should be explored from the perspective of raising the profile of the profession and ensuring sustainability of placement provision. Keywords

Across the world, people are living longer but not necessarily healthier lives. Healthcare professionals will need to be prepared to work with older people, recognising that, at all stages of the lifespan, attention to nutrition and other health behaviours can impact positively on wellbeing. This study examined the attitudes, knowledge and future career preferences of pre-registration dietetic students in the United Kingdom towards working with older people. A questionnaire, based on the validated Palmore Facts on Aging Quiz and adapted to a UK population, was sent to the fifteen universities which provide dietetic courses in the UK approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Responses were received from thirteen universities, and, of the estimated 1250 students, 285 questionnaires were completed (response rate 23%) with the predominant demographic being 91% female, and 86% undergraduate degree type. The mean knowledge score was higher in postgraduate vs. undergraduate students (69.6% vs. 65.2%; p <0.011). A weak positive correlation (r s = 0.155) was found between number of placement weeks carried out and knowledge score (p <0.01). Care of the elderly was the least preferred of five specialities, and 65-plus was the fourth preferred age group out of five. A greater focus should be placed on the delivery of aging education and placement experiences in dietetic courses to increase the number of graduate dietetic students who have positive work preferences towards older adults.

The recent shootings at Port Arthur have highlighted trends throughout the Western World to extend debriefing and post-event counselling to the local community and secondary victims of such tragedies as well as the primary victims and emergency personnel involved. The cost of providing this extended service is not inconsiderable. There is little research that confirms effectiveness of such debriefing [1–4] and even some that points to possible long-term harm [5]. It is important to reconsider the most effective, post-event response from public health authorities.

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