An exploration of individuals’ preferences for nutrition care from Australian primary care health professionals

Abstract

Abstract. This qualitative study explored individuals' preferences regarding the provision of nutrition care from Australian health professionals and the factors influencing their preferences. Thirty-eight individuals aged 53 AE 8 years, living with a lifestyle-related chronic disease or risk factor for lifestyle-related chronic disease, participated in a semistructured telephone interview. Participants were asked questions regarding their perceptions of which Australian health professionals provide nutrition care, their preferences for this care and the factors influencing their preferences. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using a constant-comparison approach. General practitioners were the most recognised health professional that provided nutrition care to patients, followed by dietitians. General practitioners were regarded by most participants as the preferred provider of nutrition care because they were perceived to provide trustworthy and personalised nutrition care. Participants reported confusion regarding the professional differences between dietitians and nutritionists, and appealed for more information to be available to individuals that are considering consulting an Australian health professional for nutrition care. The findings of this study suggest that general practitioners are the preferred providers of nutrition care for many individuals living with a lifestyle-related chronic disease. Considering the increasing presentation of patients with lifestyle-related chronic disease in general practice, it is anticipated that the demand on general practitioners to provide nutrition care to patients will increase in the future.

Are doctors nutritionists? What is the role of doctors in providing nutrition advice?

“…Although patients trust their doctor and hold their advice in high regard (Ball et al . ; Walker et al . ), their doctor might not have the time and skills to effectively communicate optimal diet advice that can enable their patients to make behavioural change.…”

“…Today's patients are more likely to question medical care they receive and seek information from other sources of variable repute, such as articles on the Internet and health gurus on social media (Pollard et al 2015;Yiannakoulias et al 2017). Although patients trust their doctor and hold their advice in high regard (Ball et al 2014;Walker et al 2018), their doctor might not have the time and skills to effectively communicate optimal diet advice that can enable their patients to make behavioural change.…”

Providing Nutrition Care to Patients with Chronic Disease: An Irish Teaching Hospital Healthcare Professional Study

“…Internationally, medical staff are viewed as a reliable and trusted source of information [4]. However, there has been an ad hoc approach to inclusion of nutrition educational programmes in medical and nursing curriculums in a number of countries [5,6].…”

Clients expect nutrition care to be provided by personal trainers in Australia

“…Given the prevalence of poor dietary behaviours in Australia and internationally, opportunities to promote healthy dietary behaviours should be explored. Nutrition care provided by primary health clinicians, such as general practitioners and allied health workers, is often well received and trusted . However, health professionals often report barriers to providing nutrition care such as a perceived lack of patient readiness .…”

“…Nutrition care provided by primary health clinicians, such as general practitioners and allied health workers, is often well received and trusted. 33 However, health professionals often report barriers to providing nutrition care such as a perceived lack of patient readiness. 34,35 In contrast, the present study suggests that individuals expect to receive nutrition care from personal trainers, and 40% of participants reported positive dietary changes as a result of nutrition care from their personal trainer.…”