scholarly journals Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, and Confidence of Australian General Practice Registrars

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caryl A. Nowson ◽  
Stella L. O’Connell

Nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and confidence were assessed in General Practice Registrars (GPRs) throughout Australia. Of approximately 6,000 GPRs invited to complete a nutrition survey, 93 respondents (2%) completed the online survey, with 89 (20 males, 69 females) providing demographic and educational information. Fifty-one percent had graduated from medical school within the last two years. From a list of 11 dietary strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk, respondents selected weight loss (84%), reducing saturated fats (90%), a maximum of two alcoholic drinks/day (82%), and increasing vegetables (83%) as “highly appropriate” strategies, with only 51% indicating that salt reduction was “highly appropriate.” Two-thirds of registrars felt “moderately” (51%) or “very” confident (16%) providing nutrition advice. Most of them (84%) recalled receiving information during training, but only 34% recalled having to demonstrate nutritional knowledge. The results indicate that this group of Australian GPRs understood most of the key dietary recommendations for reducing cardiovascular risk but lacked consensus regarding the recommendation to reduce salt intake and expressed mixed levels of confidence in providing nutritional advice. Appropriate nutrition education before and after graduation is recommended for GPRs to ensure the development of skills and confidence to support patients to make healthy dietary choices and help prevent chronic diseases.

Author(s):  
Zeying Huang ◽  
Di Zeng

China has the highest mortality rate caused by diseases and conditions associated with its high-salt diet. Since 2016, China has initiated a national salt reduction campaign that aims at promoting the usage of salt information on food labels and salt-restriction spoons and reducing condiment and pickled food intake. However, factors affecting individuals’ decisions to adopt these salt reduction measures remain largely unknown. By comparing the performances of logistic regression, stepwise logistic regression, lasso logistic regression and adaptive lasso logistic regression, this study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the adoption behaviour of 1610 individuals from a nationally representative online survey. It was found that the practices were far from adopted and only 26.40%, 22.98%, 33.54% and 37.20% reported the adoption of labelled salt information, salt-restriction spoons, reduced condiment use in home cooking and reduced pickled food intake, respectively. Knowledge on salt, the perceived benefits of salt reduction, participation in nutrition education and training programs on sodium reduction were positively associated with using salt information labels. Adoption of the other measures was largely explained by people’s awareness of hypertension risks and taste preferences. It is therefore recommended that policy interventions should enhance Chinese individuals’ knowledge of salt, raise the awareness of the benefits associated with a low-salt diet and the risks associated with consuming excessive salt and reshape their taste choices.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-En Yen

BACKGROUND Computer games can increase children’s interest in learning, and then improve their nutritional knowledge, and their dietary intake behavior. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of computer games on preschool children's nutrition knowledge and junk food intake behavior. This study was a cross-sectional study. METHODS We recruited 104 preschool children age 5-6 years from preschools and randomly assign to experiment group (n=56) and control group (n=48). The researchers used Construct 2 to design and produce the "Healthy Rat King" computer game as a nutrition education tool for children. The computer game courses intervention was one hour per week for four consecutive weeks in experiment group, and the control group did not received computer game intervention. RESULTS The results showed that the nutrition knowledge score of children in experiment group were significant higher than the control group after four weeks of computer game course intervention, and the frequency of chocolate, candies, and ice cream intake was significantly reduced in experiment group after four weeks of computer game intervention. CONCLUSIONS computer game teaching suggested that improved children’s nutrition knowledge and decreased the frequency of junk food intake.


2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Ridel Juzwiak ◽  
Fabio Ancona-Lopez

The objectives of this study were to describe the dietary practices recommended by coaches working with adolescent athletes and to assess their nutritional knowledge. During a regional competition in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, 55 coaches were interviewed. These coaches represented 22 cities with athletes enrolled in Olympic gymnastics, tennis, swimming, and judo events. A 3- section questionnaire was used to obtain data on demographic characteristics, dietary recommendations, and nutrition knowledge. Results showed that all coaches recommended general dietary practices during training, with no specific strategies for pre-, during-, and post-training periods. The main objectives of the recommendations for the training period were weight control and muscle mass gain. Deleterious weight control practices were recommended by 27% of the coaches. Specific dietary practices pre and post competition were recommended by 93% and 46% of the coaches, respectively. Participants responded correctly to 70% (SD = 3.2) of the nutrition knowledge questions, with no significant differences (p = .61) between sports. The knowledge test identified a tendency to overvalue proteins, excessively low-fat diets, and food myths. These findings indicate the importance of developing strategies that will enhance the nutritional training of coaches.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marquitta C. Webb ◽  
Safiya E. Beckford

Purpose. To investigate the level of nutrition knowledge and attitude of adolescent male and female swimmers training competitively in Trinidad and Tobago.Methodology. A self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of 21 nutrition knowledge and 11 attitude statements, was utilized to assess the level of nutrition knowledge and attitude of adolescent swimmers. For the assessment of nutrition knowledge, correct answers were given a score of “1” and incorrect answers were given a score of “0.” For the evaluation of attitude towards nutrition, a score ranging from 1 to 5 was assigned to each response; “5” was given to the most positive response, and “1” was given to the most negative. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.Results. Two hundred and twenty swimmers with a mean age of14.56±2.544completed the questionnaire. The mean nutrition knowledge score was10.97±2.897and mean attitude score was41.69±6.215. Nutrition knowledge was positively and significantly related to the number of reported nutrition sources (r=0.172,P=0.005). Nutrition knowledge was positively and significantly related to the attitude (r=0.130,P=0.027).Conclusions and Implication. Athletes lack nutrition knowledge but have a positive attitude towards nutrition, which may indicate receptiveness to future nutrition education.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lana J. Mitchell ◽  
Lesley MacDonald-Wicks ◽  
Sandra Capra

General practice is an ideal setting to be providing nutrition advice; however, it is important that the role of general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses in providing nutrition advice is acknowledged and defined. This article aims to discuss the role of GPs and practice nurses in the delivery of nutrition advice. Ten general practitioners and 12 practice nurses from a NSW urban Division of General Practice participated in questionnaires and a Lifescripts© implementation study, as well as their consenting patients receiving Lifescripts© (n = 13). An online survey was conducted with 90 Australian private practice dietitians. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 52 Australian private practice dietitians. The provision of basic nutrition advice is acknowledged to be part of the role of GPs and practice nurses, as they are the first point of contact for patients, allowing them to raise nutrition awareness. However, it is important that this advice is evidence based and able to be delivered in a time-efficient manner. Increased nutrition education and the availability of appropriate resources and nutrition-related best practice guidelines will assist in this process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Jürgen Putschögl ◽  
Gebhard Woisetschläger

Introduction: Osteopaths are important actors in the Austrian healthcare system. High prevalence rates for diseases associated with nutrition, as well as studies from other countries, imply that os-teopaths are confronted with questions regarding nutrition in the course of their work. Aim: The purpose of this study was to survey osteopath's knowledge of nutritional issues in a cross-sectional study and analyze factors that influence nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, it will be investigated if osteopaths are confronted with problems or questions regarding nutrition. Material and Methods: With the help of schools of osteopathy all osteopaths, who could be found in Austria, were asked to participate in an online survey. As instruments of research, the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ) and a second questionnaire were used. Results: The average rate of correctly answered questions was 74.4% for the GNKQ and 37.2% for the Temple Questionnaire (n=188). Discussion: Compared to other occupational groups in the American or British healthcare system, Austrian osteopaths' average nutritional knowledge is slightly higher. Only nutrition experts and people employed at centres specializing in eating disorders obtained more favourable results. Fur-ther surveys ought to develop valid instruments for Austria and attempt to define which amount of nutrition knowledge can be considered as adequate for certain occupational groups. Keywords: nutrition knowledge, knowledge of nutritional issues, osteopathy, General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Harkin ◽  
Emily Johnston ◽  
Tony Mathews ◽  
Yu Guo ◽  
Arthur Schwartzbard ◽  
...  

Morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease can be significantly modified through lifestyle interventions, yet there is little emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle in medical education. Improving nutrition education for future physicians would likely lead to improved preparedness to counsel patients on lifestyle interventions. An online anonymous survey of medical residents, cardiology fellows, and faculty in Internal Medicine and Cardiology was conducted at New York University Langone Health assessing basic nutritional knowledge, self-reported attitudes and practices. A total of 248 physicians responded (26.7% response rate). Nutrition knowledge was fair, but few (13.5%) felt adequately trained to discuss nutrition with patients. A majority (78.4%) agreed that additional training in nutrition would allow them to provide better clinical care. Based on survey responses, a dedicated continuing medical education (CME) conference was developed to improve knowledge and lifestyle counseling skills of healthcare providers. In postconference evaluations, attendees reported improved knowledge of evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Most noted that they would prescribe a Mediterranean or plant-based diet and would make changes to their practice based on the conference. An annual CME conference on diet and lifestyle can effectively help interested providers overcome barriers to lifestyle change in clinical practice through improved nutrition knowledge.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
U Toft ◽  
N L Riis ◽  
A D Lassen ◽  
E Trolle ◽  
K S Bjørnsbo

Abstract Potential adverse effects of reducing salt intake in the general population are discussed. This study aims to explore the effect of gradually reducing salt intake in a real-life setting. The study was a 4-month cluster RCT with families randomly assigned to either A) salt reduced bread, B) salt reduced bread and dietary counselling or C) standard bread (control) Participants in intervention A received bread gradually reduced in salt content from 1.2 g salt/100g (regular) to 0.6 g salt/100g in ryebread and 0.4 g salt/100g in wheat bread. Participants in intervention B received the same bread as intervention A but in addition, they received dietary advise on how to further reduce their salt intake and promote potassium. The control group received regular bread (blinded). Changes in outcomes were assessed using linear mixed models. Results A total of 89 Danish families (155 adults; 156 children) participated in the study. A total of 291 (94%) participants completed the intervention. Results are preliminary. Intention to treat analyses showed no significant effects of the salt reduction intervention on changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasma triglyceride. A small, but significant (-0.26 mmol/l; P = 0.02) decrease in total plasma cholesterol was shown in intervention group A. Per protocol analyses, including only participants in the intervention groups that decreased their salt intake by at least 20% from baseline to 4-month follow-up, showed a significant decrease in diastolic (-3.5 mmHg; P < 0.0001) and systolic (-6.3 mmHg; P < 0.0001) blood pressure, total cholesterol (-0.25 mmol/l; P = 0.0009), LDL cholesterol (log. transformed) (-6%; P = 0.03) and plasma triglyceride (log. transformed) (-17%; P = 0.04). No significant effects were found for HDL plasma cholesterol, aldosterone, renin, plasma glucose and HbA1c. Conclusions Reduced salt intake were associated with beneficial changes in cardiovascular risk factors. No adverse effects were observed. Key messages Reduced salt intake were associated with benificial changes in cardiovascular risk factors. No adverse effects were observed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1327-1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Áine Regan ◽  
Christine Liran Shan ◽  
Patrick Wall ◽  
Áine McConnon

AbstractObjectiveAs countries struggle to meet the set targets for population salt intake, there have been calls for more regulated approaches to reducing dietary salt intake. However, little is known about how the public perceives various salt reduction policies; an important line of investigation given that the implementation and success of these policies often depend on public sentiment. We investigated the attitudes and beliefs of consumers towards salt reduction and their support for thirteen different government-led salt reduction policies.DesignA cross-sectional online survey measured participants’ knowledge, beliefs and attitudes in relation to salt reduction.SettingThe survey was carried out with participants from the Republic of Ireland.SubjectsFive hundred and one participants recruited via a market research agency completed the survey.ResultsWe found that the vast majority of participants supported eleven of the government-led salt reduction policies, which included measures such as education, labelling and salt restriction in foods (both voluntary and regulated, across a range of settings). The two proposed fiscal policies (subsidising low-salt foods and taxing high-salt foods) received less support in comparison, with the majority of participants opposed to a tax on high-salt foods. A series of multiple regressions revealed that individual attitudes and beliefs related to health and salt were stronger predictors of support than sociodemographic factors, lifestyle or knowledge.ConclusionsThe study provides an important evidence base from which policy makers may draw when making decisions on future policy steps to help achieve national salt targets.


2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (55) ◽  
pp. 7035-7054
Author(s):  
GO Anetor ◽  
◽  
BO Ogundele ◽  
OE Oyewole

Stomach cancer is one of the common cancers worldwide including developing countries and is identified as one of the most lethal among the diet related cancers. In Nigeria, there is paucity of data and information about the prevalence of stomach cancer and without doubt this disease is on the increase. Youth engage in the consumption of western diets which have been identified in the literature as one factor that is closely associated with cancers. This shift to western diets by most youth may be due to lack of nutritional knowledge on the health consequences of their eating habits. In years to come, there may be an increase in the incidence of diet -related cancers and other chronic diseases if nutrition education is not put in place especially among the youth. Not many studies in Nigeria have focused on nutrition education of the youth in relation to the prevention of chronic diseases ; prominent among which is stomach cancer. This study is aimed at providing nutrition related education to university undergraduates in order to create awareness about nutrition with a view to preventing a rise in the incidence of stomach cancer and other chronic diseases. A quasi -experimental design was used for this study. Multi -stage sampling was used to select 436 male and female undergraduates between 16 -25 years old from two universities in south- west Nigeria (one control and one experimental ). The intervention consisted of lectures on nutritional factors of stomach cancer one hour weekly for 8 weeks and a placebo lecture on HIV/AIDS stigmatization for the control group. A validated self -structured questionnaire was used to collect the data for the pretest and posttest . Demographic characteristics were analyzed with percentages; variables were analyzed using t -test and ANCOVA set at 95% confidence interval. Nutrition education improved knowledge of nutrition in the participants (p<0.00). The experimental group displayed higher nutrition knowledge compared to control . Level of study affected participants’ nutrition knowledge; students of lower level study performed better (p< 0.00). Gender also affected participants’ nutrition knowledge; females performed better than males (p<0.00). More nutrition education should be encouraged in school setting s to improve knowledge of nutrition in order to prevent a possible dietary risk of stomach cancer and other chronic diseases.


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