Assessment of general nutrition knowledge of nurse practitioners in New England

Nutritional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Family Physician Practitioners in Gulf Countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE)

Family physicians serve as pivotal points of contact within global healthcare systems. Nutrition plays a significant role in lifestyle and preventive medicine. With the rise of chronic and non-communicable diseases in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, these physicians advise patients and the public on diet-related conditions. This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed the nutritional knowledge and practices across the GCC. Combining survey data from multiple GCC sites, a sample of family physicians was generated. Registered GCC family physicians received email invitations containing participant information, informed consent forms, and a self-administered online questionnaire. Analysis of data from four GCC countries involving 8751 family physicians and nutrition experts revealed an average nutrition knowledge score of 62%. Nearly all participants recognized the importance of nutrition in preventing and treating chronic diseases. Common nutritional practices included recommending regular exercise (92%), referring patients to dietitians for nutrition-related concerns (70%), and providing nutrition advice (68.6%). GCC family physicians underscore the significance of nutrition in preventing and managing chronic ailments. Therefore, incorporating nutritional counseling into their practices is essential. This study highlights the need to integrate nutrition education into medical curricula and ongoing professional development, given that only 62% of GCC family physicians correctly answered nutrition-related questions.

Models of nutrition-focused continuing education programs for nurses: a systematic review of the evidence

Nurses are well-positioned to provide basic nutrition education and reinforce nutrition messages to patients in hospital and primary care settings. Despite this, nurses may not receive adequate training to provide this service, and there is limited opportunity for nurses to engage in nutrition-focused continuing education (CE). The aim of this review was to determine whether nurse nutrition education results in improved knowledge and practices; and explore which models of CE for nutrition may be most acceptable and effective in practice. Web of Science and Scopus were searched for case-series studies published between 2000 and 2016 that investigated changes in nutrition knowledge of nurses and midwives. Only studies that could transcend to nurses providing patient nutrition education were included. Twelve articles met the eligibility criteria. Articles are explored in terms of mode of delivery, duration of intervention and educational strategies employed. Nutrition CE programs that are delivered face-to-face or by self-directed learning manuals, which utilise active learning strategies, are positively associated with improvements in nutrition knowledge. Web-based CE and self-directed learning may be favourable modes of delivery as they may assist in addressing resource and time contraints.

Survey of nutrition knowledge of physicians in Kuwait

Objective

The objective of the present study was to determine whether nutrition knowledge differs between male and female physicians working in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Design

The study employed a cross-sectional analysis of physician's nutrition knowledge by using a sixteen-item multiple-choice questionnaire.

Setting

Governmental hospitals in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Subjects

One hundred Kuwaiti physicians (fifty males; fifty females) working in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Results

A response rate of 73 % was achieved (forty males; thirty-three females). The mean percentage of correctly answered questions was 60 %. The male and female physicians averaged 56 % and 65 % of correct responses, respectively (P = 0·042). However, only for two questions did male and female physicians’ scores differ significantly (P < 0·05). The two age groups (<40 years; ≥40 years) had equal mean total correct scores (60 %, P = 0·935). Physicians’ knowledge was greatest for topics that have received a great deal of media coverage in Kuwait. Most (70 %) of the physicians described their nutrition knowledge as ‘moderate’.

Conclusions

Physicians in Kuwait gave inaccurate information regarding common problems in Kuwaitis such as obesity, hypertension and osteoporosis. In view of the public's perception of the role of the physician in providing nutrition advice, it is imperative that nutrition and diet training be part of continuing medical education to bridge these deficiencies in physicians’ knowledge.

Assessment of nurses' nutritional knowledge regarding therapeutic diet regimens

Metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the incidence of which is currently increasing in Korea, can be managed well with dietary education and modification. However, it has yet to be established whether nurses have sufficient knowledge to impart appropriate nutritional counseling to patients with these diseases. Our study involved 506 nurses working at Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, and Seoul National University Hospital between March and May, 2006. The questionnaire was comprised of 42 diet-related questions pertaining to diabetes, obesity, and CVD. Nurses' correct-response rate for overall nutritional knowledge was worse than reported in Western countries (58.4%), and particularly so with regard to obesity and CVD. Although many nurses were aware of the therapeutic aspects of nutrients in relation to CVD, most of them had limited knowledge about low-cholesterol diets and sources of water-soluble fiber, fatty acids and the specific food items that prevent CVD. Our results suggest that there is an urgent need to update the contents of nutrition education for nurses to reflect the current changes in the Korean diet and the increasing incidence of metabolic diseases and CVD.

Cuidado nutricional na visão de enfermeiras docentes

OBJETIVO: Identificar percepções e práticas de docentes de um curso de graduação em Enfermagem em relação ao ensino de nutrição, a fim de subsidiar propostas pedagógicas. MÉTODOS: A pesquisa foi realizada em uma universidade privada do Estado de São Paulo com a participação de treze docentes, empregando-se, em uma primeira etapa, metodologia qualitativa mediante o uso de questionário. Na segunda etapa, foi utilizada a técnica de grupo focal com a participação de cinco dessas docentes. RESULTADOS: O ensino de nutrição na graduação das enfermeiras docentes não contemplou as demandas da prática profissional. Elas consideram que houve um declínio na qualidade do cuidado nutricional, durante os últimos anos, e sentem dificuldades em relação a esse cuidado tanto no hospital como na área de saúde pública. Sentem dificuldade, também, para o trabalho em equipe. CONCLUSÃO: A discussão em grupo criou um ambiente favorável à problematização da prática profissional do enfermeiro em relação ao cuidado nutricional, propiciando uma autocrítica no que diz respeito à parceria com outros profissionais da saúde. O ensino de nutrição deve contemplar temas como cuidar/cuidado e interdisciplinaridade para preparar melhor o aluno para a prática.

The nutritional knowledge of Australian nurses

Sound nutrition is an essential component of good health. A number of health professionals, including nurses, provide nutritional information to the community. However, little research exists which measures the nutrition knowledge of nurses in Australia. The aim of this study was to determine the nutrition knowledge of nurses in regional Victoria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used with 103 nurses (81% currently practicing in an acute regional hospital). The nurses answered 48 multiple choice general knowledge questions (using a valid and reliable questionnaire) and provided educational and demographic details. Each multiple choice question was scored as correct or incorrect and given the value of one point (maximum possible 48 points). The mean knowledge score for all nurses was 60.2% (SD = 8.4). Older nurses, those with more years of experience, and nurses with general training (rather than a degree) scored higher average knowledge scores. Respondents reported requests for nutrition information from patients and clients, and indicated that the most frequently used nutrition information sources were dietitians, other nurses, professional journals, books and literature from the National Heart Foundation. The nutrition knowledge score reported in this study is low to moderate by definition from previous studies using the same questionnaire. It is recommended that the Australian nursing profession determines its own nutrition knowledge standard and the nutrition knowledge needs of nurses working in particular areas of practice. Further work is required to determine the validity and reliability of an Australian knowledge instrument.

Concepções de profissionais de saúde da atenção básica sobre a alimentação saudável no Distrito Federal, Brasil

As mudanças alimentares na sociedade ocidental apontam para a importância de uma ação específica no campo da saúde individual e coletiva e colocam os profissionais sanitaristas como indivíduos estratégicos na promoção da alimentação saudável. O presente estudo tem o propósito de conhecer as concepções desses profissionais sobre a alimentação saudável, com base na técnica metodológica da pesquisa-ação aplicada em centros de saúde do Distrito Federal. Os resultados mostram que existe um aparente dualismo entre os conceitos envolvidos nesse tema, um que versa sobre a idealização alimentar e outro que situa o espaço da realidade concreta dos indivíduos. Ou seja, há um conceito sobre a alimentação para a saúde fundamentado na literatura científica e outro que se apóia neste, mas distingue-se no espaço interno do cotidiano. Neste último, os atores sociais fazem correspondências entre um saber e outro e trazem à tona os hábitos alimentares conjugados ao estilo de vida, mas, em ambas as concepções, a tendência é transcender o caráter biológico implícito na construção do conceito e apoiar-se nas condições sócio-culturais que as moldam e são moldadas no plano concreto da realidade.