Developing professional education for primary healthcare providers about nutrition
Catherine J. Lucas
A C , Anne T. McMahon B and Karen E. Charlton A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
B School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: cjl623@uowmail.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 25(6) 534-538 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY19075
Submitted: 6 April 2019 Accepted: 5 August 2019 Published: 19 November 2019
Abstract
Nutrition care is an important component of primary health care as a way to promote positive lifestyle behaviours and reduce risks of chronic disease. Despite this, it appears that primary healthcare settings, including antenatal care, miss opportunities to deliver nutrition care. Time constraints, lack of nutrition knowledge and lack of confidence have been identified as barriers for primary healthcare providers in delivering nutrition care. Nutrition training to upskill primary healthcare providers to deliver nutrition care in a timely manner therefore appears warranted. This forum article discusses models and methods of continuing professional development (CPD) and the effectiveness of nutrition CPD for primary healthcare professionals. It includes a case study as an example of developing nutrition CPD for midwives using adult learning theory and concludes with implications for developing nutrition education resources for primary healthcare providers.
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