Title
Positioning Nutrition care within community-based health services in India: availability, demand, perceived impact and the role of medical doctors
Principal Investigator
Marjorie Rafaela Lima do Vale, Sarah Armes, Luke Buckner, Sumantra Ray
Affiliation
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NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition & Health, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University at Coleraine, United Kingdom
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Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Start Date
Not specified
End Date
21-Jun-2023
Study Objective
This study explored the perspective of Indian health professionals on the demand, availability and impact of nutrition interventions and their attitudes and training towards nutrition care.
Short Abstract
Nutrition care at the community level can support the prevention and management of nutrition-related chronic diseases. However, the lack of nutrition professionals, limited understanding across healthcare professionals of their role in nutrition care and/or limited training in nutrition are issues in India. This study explored the perspective of Indian health professionals on the demand, availability and impact of nutrition interventions and their attitudes and training towards nutrition care.
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with medical doctors (n=177), nutritionists and dietitians (n=146). The questions covered five domains: participants’ characteristics, perceived availability and demand for nutrition services, perceived impact on dietary choices, hospitalisations and deaths, perception of medical doctors’ role in nutrition care, and education and training in nutrition.
77 participants (mostly from West Bengal) completed the survey. 60% reported moderate demand for nutrition services; many reported unsatisfactory services. Nutritionists rated the impact of nutrition interventions higher than medical doctors. Differences also existed in perceptions of doctors’ roles in encouraging healthy eating and referrals. Around 30% of doctors had no formal nutrition education.
Nutrition education and counselling services in primary healthcare are perceived as promising actions to promote healthy dietary choices and/or prevent hospitalisations and deaths. Improved availability, capacity and quality of such services are needed in India.
Study Design
Cross-sectional
Population
Medical doctors, nutritionists and dietitians in India via the Remedy Clinic Study Group (RCSG) in Kolkata, West Bengal
Sample Size
77 participants (most from West Bengal)
Inclusion Criteria
Medical doctors, nutritionists and dietitians in the Remedy Clinic Study Group (RCSG)
Exclusion Criteria
Not specified
Intervention/Exposure
Online survey with questions covering five domains: participants’ characteristics; perceived availability and demand for nutrition services; perceived impact on dietary choices, hospitalisations and deaths; perception of medical doctors’ role in nutrition care; and education and training in nutrition
Outcome Measures
Not specified
Funding Source
No funding provided
Collaborating Institutions
Not specified
Ethics Approval
This was exempt by the RCSG ethics committee for full independent ethics approval as it falls within the remit of routine service evaluation
Publication Status
Not yet published
Keywords
Nutrition assessment, Malnutrition
Data Collection Methods
Online survey
Primary Data Availability
Not specified
Contact Information