Nutrition Communication in Dutch General practice: integration of the patients' perspective and the family doctors' perspective
A sound nutrition advice is important for patients with coronary heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The family doctor has high potential to promote nutrition to their patients through its broad reach, including the hard-to-reach low socio-economic class. Unfortunately, in daily practice of most family doctors, this nutrition communication is not optimal. Therefore, a combination of qualitative and quantitative studies among patients and family doctors was performed in order to explore and assess their communicative characteristics regarding nutrition communication.In our literature review, we searched for studies about the occurrence, the patients' perspective and the family doctors' perspective regarding nutrition communication in general practice. It can be concluded that results about the occurrence of nutrition communication in general practice differed widely. Moreover, patients' perceptions regarding nutrition communication through family doctors appeared to be positive. Family doctors' perceptions were positive too, but they also experienced several barriers, such as lack of time and patient non-compliance.To explore and assess the patients' perspective, we used focus groups, in-depth interviews and face-to-face interview-assisted questionnaires. A discrepancy between perceived relevance and information needs regarding food topics was discovered. Patients' perceptions regarding nutrition communication through family doctors were positive. Whereas patients had difficulties with estimating their nutrition behaviour, nutrition awareness is important as a first step in behavioural change. With our hypothetical model, we were able to unravel the concept of nutrition awareness. Individual variables were more prominent than environmental variables. In addition, gender and age added to our model. Total explained variance appeared to be 54%.In order to explore and assess the family doctors' perspective, we used focus groups and questionnaires. These studies showed that family doctors' were positive about nutrition communication towards their patients. However, they did not always feel capable to communicate about overweight. Moreover, family doctors used a combination of nutrition communication styles, namely informational, reference, motivational, confrontational and holistic nutrition communication styles. Our hypothetical model was tested for each nutrition communication style and showed explained variances up to 57%. Individual variables were the best predictors and socio-demographic variables did not add to the models. It is recommended that family doctors become convinced that patients prefer them for nutrition communication. Raising nutrition awareness among patients is necessary. Finally, we advise that family doctors realise that they can apply different nutrition communication styles.
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| Format: | Doctoral thesis biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
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Grafisch Service Centrum
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| Subjects: | cardiovascular diseases, communication, diabetes, diets, diseases, general practitioners, health education, health promotion, netherlands, nutrition education, nutrition information, patients, communicatie, diëten, gezondheidsbevordering, gezondheidseducatie, hart- en vaatziekten, huisartsen, nederland, patiënten, suikerziekte, voedingseducatie, voedingsinformatie, ziekten, |
| Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/nutrition-communication-in-dutch-general-practice-integration-of- |
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