Public perceptions of dietetics services in Australia and New Zealand

Adrienne Forsyth; Eleanor J Beck; Rozanne Kruger; Fiona Pelly; Clare Wall; Rachel Boak; Margaret Allman-Farinelli

doi:10.1111/1747-0080.12899

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Public perceptions of dietetics services in Australia and New Zealand

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Public perceptions of dietetics services in Australia and New Zealand

Adrienne Forsyth, Eleanor J Beck, Rozanne Kruger, Fiona Pelly, Clare Wall, Rachel Boak and Margaret Allman-Farinelli

Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol.81(5), pp.480-496

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12899

PMID: 39229712

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Abstract

Nutrition and dietetics

Nutrition

attitudes

cross-sectional survey

dietary services

patient satisfaction

perceptions

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine expectations, perceptions and attitudes about dietetics services among the Australian and New Zealand public, to provide insights for building a future dietetics workforce that will meet consumer needs. Methods: A cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey was employed to gain perspectives of a representative sample of Australian and New Zealand adults. Questions were purposely designed to collect views regarding sources of dietary information, expectations of dietetics service providers and factors influencing choice of dietetics service provider. Data were analysed descriptively and using Pearson's chi-square test to assess relationships between categorical variables. Free-text responses were analysed using content analysis. Results: Of 2601 respondents, approximately one third (32%) had seen a dietitian. Doctors were the most trusted sources of dietary information (87%), particularly with participants over 60 years (χ(1) = 44.168, V = 0.130, p < 0.001). Cost was the most frequently reported factor influencing choice of dietetics services (56%), with 88% of respondents interested in accessing a dietitian, preferably in-person (64%), if they could do so for no cost. Participants anticipated that dietitians would offer services like meal plans (59%) and nutritional analysis (48%) as well as weight and other body measurements (56%). Some expectations such as blood tests (54%) were outside the usual scope of dietetic practice. Conclusion: The results of this study have implications for practising dieti-tians, dietetics educators, and funders of dietetics services. Cost as a barrier suggests that advocacy to government for funding type, duration and number of visits to dietitians is still required.

Details

Title: Public perceptions of dietetics services in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Adrienne Forsyth (Author) - Australian Catholic University
Eleanor J Beck (Author) - UNSW Sydney
Rozanne Kruger (Author) - Griffith University
Fiona Pelly (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Clare Wall (Author) - University of Auckland
Rachel Boak (Author) - Council of Deans of Nutrition and Dietetics Australia and New Zealand (Australia, Brisbane)
Margaret Allman-Farinelli (Corresponding Author) - The University of Sydney
Publication details: Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol.81(5), pp.480-496
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12899
ISSN: 1747-0080
PMID: 39229712
Copyright note: © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Data Availability: The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in QUT Research Data Finder at https:// doi.org/10.25912/RDF_1712207067618.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991058498402621
Output Type: Journal article

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