How do patients want to receive nutrition care? Qualitative findings from Australian health consumers
Mari Somerville
A B , Lauren Ball A , Amy Kirkegaard A and Lauren T. Williams A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Parklands Drive, Gold Coast, Qld 4222, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: mari.somerville@dal.ca
Australian Journal of Primary Health 28(1) 33-39 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY21077
Submitted: 8 April 2021 Accepted: 22 September 2021 Published: 16 December 2021
Abstract
This qualitative descriptive study explored health consumers’ preferences for receiving nutrition care in Australian primary care. The study was underpinned by a constructivist research paradigm. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 25 health consumers (age 19–78 years; 19 female) from across Australia between May and August 2020. Content analysis, using an inductive approach revealed emergent themes. was used to reveal emergent themes. Five themes were identified in the data: (1) health consumers want to receive nutrition care from a qualified person; (2) nutrition care is viewed as important, and health consumers want to receive it in a format that meets their needs; (3) nutrition care should be low cost and available to everyone; (4) nutrition care services should be conveniently located; and (5) health consumers want nutrition care to be offered frequently, across their lifespan. Health consumers have a clear idea of how they would like to receive nutrition care in the primary care setting, but reported challenges to receiving this care within the current system. New models of service delivery are needed to meet the needs of health consumers.
Keywords: chronic disease prevention, health systems, models of care.
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