Nutrition in general practice: role and workforce preparation expectations of medical educators
Lauren E. Ball A C , Roger M. Hughes A B and Michael D. Leveritt A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Public Health and Griffith Health Institute, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Qld 4222, Australia.
B School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore, Qld 4558, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: lauren.ball@griffithuni.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 16(4) 304-310 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY10014
Submitted: 11 May 2010 Accepted: 12 August 2010 Published: 3 December 2010
Abstract
Nutrition advice from general practitioners (GPs) is held in high regard by the general public, yet the literature investigating the role of GPs in the provision of nutrition care is limited. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of general practice medical educators (GPMEs) regarding the role of GPs in general practice nutrition care, the competencies required by GPs to provide effective nutrition care and the learning and teaching strategies best suited to develop these competencies. Twenty medical educators from fourteen Australian and New Zealand universities participated in an individual semi-structured telephone interview, guided by an inquiry logic informed by the literature. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Medical educators identified that nutrition was an important but mostly superficially addressed component of health care in general practice. Numerous barriers to providing nutrition care in general practice were identified. These include a lack of time and associated financial disincentives, perceptions of inadequate skills in nutrition counselling associated with inadequate training, ambiguous attitudes and differing perceptions about the role of GPs in the provision of nutrition care. Further research is required to identify strategies to improve nutrition care and referral practices provided in the general practice setting, in order to utilise the prime position of GPs as gatekeepers of integrated care to the general public.
Additional keywords: chronic disease, general practice, medical education, nutrition.
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