Confidence and Attitudes of Doctors and Dietitians towards Nutrition Care and Nutrition Advocacy for Hospital Patients in Kolkata, India
Table 1
Confidence of doctors and dietitians towards nutrition care, nutrition advocacy, and leadership ().
Item
Confident
Neutral
Not confident
Difference between groups
Doctor
Dietitian
Doctor
Dietitian
Doctor
Dietitian
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
Provide evidence-based nutritional advice to patients and other healthcare professionals responsible for their care.
69 (56)
51 (91)
34 (28)
3 (5)
20 (16)
2 (4)
Dietitians more confident than doctors,
Treat patients using information from the most valid scientific literature and/or current guidelines.
86 (70)
50 (89)
23 (19)
5 (9)
13 (11)
1 (2)
Dietitians more confident than doctors,
Signpost patients and the public to other specialist nutrition resources as needed.
55 (45)
31 (55)
39 (32)
10 (18)
26 (21)
9 (16)
Act as an advocate for health in various policy contexts—whether in the healthcare system or beyond.
54 (44)
24 (43)
37 (30)
16 (29)
29 (24)
13 (23)
Recognise the healthcare policy, service level, and individual level challenges posed by the “double burden of malnutrition.”
66 (54)
35 (63)
29 (24)
9 (16)
27 (22)
5 (9)
Provide advice on the importance of nutrition in primary prevention or screening programmes.
81 (63)
51 (91)
29 (24)
4 (7)
12 (10)
0 (0)
Dietitians more confident than doctors,
Provide advice on the importance of nutrition in secondary prevention or early diagnosis/treatment.
86 (70)
48 (86)
30 (24)
2 (4)
5 (4)
4 (7)
Dietitians more confident than doctors,
Provide advice on the importance of nutrition in tertiary prevention or rehabilitation/disability limitation.
80 (65)
45 (80)
28 (23)
5 (9)
13 (11)
5 (9)
Work with nutritionists, dietitians, doctors, scientists, educators, public health specialists, policymakers, patients, and the public in effective partnerships.
78 (63)
48 (86)
29 (24)
5 (9)
16 (13)
2 (4)
Dietitians more confident than doctors,
Combine management and leadership with clinical/technical knowledge and skills.
65 (53)
38 (68)
34 (28)
10 (18)
24 (20)
6 (11)
Understand the “role of” and “when to” refer to a multi-professional nutrition support team is needed (e.g., parenteral nutrition specialists).
73 (59)
48 (86)
32 (26)
5 (9)
18 (15)
3 (5)
Dietitians more confident than doctors,
Understand the principles of ethics relating to nutrition and feeding.
