General practitioners’ views on providing nutrition care to patients with chronic disease: a focus group study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Nutrition care refers to practices conducted by health professionals to support patients to improve their dietary intake. General practitioners (GPs) are expected to provide nutrition care to patients for prevention and management of chronic disease. AIM This study explores GPs' opinions regarding nutrition care provision to patients with chronic disease. METHODS An interpretive descriptive approach to qualitative research using seven semi-structured focus groups with 48 GPs in Auckland was used. Focus groups investigated how GPs felt about providing nutrition care; the perceived barriers to and support required for this care; the development of further nutrition knowledge and skills; and possible roles for Practice Nurses. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach. RESULTS GPs indicated routine provision of basic nutrition care to patients with chronic disease, but perceived their limited consultation time and nutrition competence constrained their capacity to provide nutrition care. GPs felt they needed further information to provide culturally, socially and economically sensitive nutrition care. GPs displayed variable opinions on the benefits of developing their nutrition knowledge and skills, and the idea of Practice Nurses providing nutrition care. CONCLUSIONS Despite perceiving that nutrition care is important for patients with chronic disease and facing barriers to providing nutrition care, GPs appear reluctant to further develop their knowledge and skills and for Practice Nurses to provide this care. Strategies to enhance GPs' nutrition-related self-efficacy, nutrition cultural competence and attitudes towards further training care may be warranted.

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

“…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. While the nature, extent and impact of these changes are unclear; expectations of nutrition care in the personal training context indicate that individuals are likely to be accepting of nutrition care from a personal trainer, and therefore, personal training is an important context in which nutrition care should be provided.…”

“…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 . 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.…”

Setting priorities for research in medical nutrition education: an international approach

“…Interestingly, most of these topics have been previously researched to variable extents 59 17–31 This indicates that previous research activities are generally aligning with the needs and preferences of stakeholders. Furthermore, the priorities identified in this study align with grand/global challenges schemes underway in several countries including Canada, the UK and USA in terms of improving global health through prevention and management of infectious and non-communicable diseases.…”

Australian general practitioners' views regarding providing nutrition care: results of a national survey

“…Internationally, there is evidence that when GPs do not feel confident in providing nutrition care to patients, they do not provide it as often or as appropriately as would be ideal. [26][27][28] This suggests that there are gaps in GPs' nutrition knowledge which influence the frequency and quality of nutrition care provided to patients. Future strategies to improve the frequency and quality of nutrition care provided by GPs is warranted given the public health priority of supporting Australians to have healthy dietary behaviours.…”

“…29 Similar barriers have been reported in literature from North America, Europe, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. 8,10,15,16,27,30 This consistency suggests that Australian GPs are likely to be experiencing barriers that prevent effective provision of nutrition care when appropriate.…”