- Title
- Survey of Australian Dietitians Contemporary Practice and Dietetic Interventions in Overweight and Obesity: An Update of Current Practice
- Creator
- Clarke, Erin D.; Haslam, Rebecca L.; Baldwin, Jennifer N.; Burrows, Tracy; Ashton, Lee M.; Collins, Clare E.
- Relation
- Dietetics Vol. 2, Issue 1, p. 57-70
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/dietetics2010006
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2023
- Description
- The aim of this survey was to identify, (1) use of Dietitians Australia best practice guidelines, (2) contemporary practices/knowledge, and (3) professional development needs of Australian dietitians in relation to management of clients with overweight or obesity. A cross-sectional online survey consisting of 67 multiple choice and Likert scale questions on the three survey aims was administered. Data were collected between 2020–2021 and reported descriptively as frequency (%). Of 178 survey attempts, 80 respondents completed all questions (45%). Most respondents spent >50% of their time working with individuals with overweight/obesity, usually in private practice (47%). Two thirds of respondents had accessed best practice guidelines, but only 12% had completely read best practice guidelines. General healthy eating was the most frequent dietary approach used (77%). Seventy-five percent (n = 56) of dietitians reported that dietary interventions were selected based on client preference. Almost half of dietitians rated their knowledge and level of skill in management of obesity as good. Approximately 60% (n = 41) dietitians reported their skill gap was related to providing behavioural therapy/counselling. Results of the current survey indicate that use of best practice guidelines is low. However, dietitians surveyed reported that they had a good understanding of obesity management and choose a client centred approach to management, which is in line with current recommendations. Professional development activities, particularly regarding behavioural counselling are of particular interest to dietitians working with individuals with obesity.
- Subject
- dietitian; best practice; weight management; healthy eating
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1491685
- Identifier
- uon:53069
- Identifier
- ISSN:2674-0311
- Rights
- x
- Language
- eng
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