Karly Bartrim, Wendy Moyle, Olivia R L Wright, Lauren Ball
{"title":"Australian dietitians' confidence in their knowledge and skills working with older adults in aged care: A national survey.","authors":"Karly Bartrim, Wendy Moyle, Olivia R L Wright, Lauren Ball","doi":"10.1111/1747-0080.12837","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to describe dietitians' confidence in their knowledge and skills working with older adults in residential aged care facilities or home care services.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A novel, quantitative online survey was distributed to aged care dietitians. Activities, knowledge, and skills areas outlined by the Dietitians Australia 'Older Persons and Aged Care Dietitian Role Statement' were included in the 23-item survey. Likert scales captured participant responses. Median responses (n, %) are presented. Associations between participants' confidence in their knowledge and skills and years of experience working in aged care were explored using Pearson's chi-squared tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dietitians completed the survey (N = 125; age: 40 ± 13 years [mean ± SD]; 97.6% female). Dietitians reported they \"always\" worked collaboratively (n = 65%, 52%) and 'often' prescribed supplements (n = 52%, 41.6%) and utilised a food-first approach (n = 36%, 28.8%). Dietitians 'sometimes' conducted malnutrition screening (n = 28%, 22.4%), audits (n = 36%, 28.8%), nutrition education (n = 53%, 42.4%) and quality improvement activities (n = 28%, 22.4%). Dietitians 'rarely' utilised food service/standards (n = 38%, 30.4%) and nutrition/hydration procedures (n = 35%, 28.0%). Dietitians with ≥6 years of experience were more confident than dietitians with 0-5 years in providing support programs (p = 0.003), utilising healthcare policies (p = 0.013), interpreting quality assessment (p = 0.014) and communication skills (p = 0.047). Dietitians felt 'completely' or 'fairly' confident in all knowledge and skill areas, except for government and community support programs (n = 38%, 30.4%) rated 'somewhat' confident.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Aged care dietitians are confident in most aspects of their role but have opportunities to be better supported. Developing the confidence of higher-level systems and communication in early career dietitians is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":19368,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition & Dietetics","volume":" ","pages":"203-214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nutrition & Dietetics","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12837","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2023/9/6 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"NUTRITION & DIETETICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to describe dietitians' confidence in their knowledge and skills working with older adults in residential aged care facilities or home care services.
Methods: A novel, quantitative online survey was distributed to aged care dietitians. Activities, knowledge, and skills areas outlined by the Dietitians Australia 'Older Persons and Aged Care Dietitian Role Statement' were included in the 23-item survey. Likert scales captured participant responses. Median responses (n, %) are presented. Associations between participants' confidence in their knowledge and skills and years of experience working in aged care were explored using Pearson's chi-squared tests.
Results: Dietitians completed the survey (N = 125; age: 40 ± 13 years [mean ± SD]; 97.6% female). Dietitians reported they "always" worked collaboratively (n = 65%, 52%) and 'often' prescribed supplements (n = 52%, 41.6%) and utilised a food-first approach (n = 36%, 28.8%). Dietitians 'sometimes' conducted malnutrition screening (n = 28%, 22.4%), audits (n = 36%, 28.8%), nutrition education (n = 53%, 42.4%) and quality improvement activities (n = 28%, 22.4%). Dietitians 'rarely' utilised food service/standards (n = 38%, 30.4%) and nutrition/hydration procedures (n = 35%, 28.0%). Dietitians with ≥6 years of experience were more confident than dietitians with 0-5 years in providing support programs (p = 0.003), utilising healthcare policies (p = 0.013), interpreting quality assessment (p = 0.014) and communication skills (p = 0.047). Dietitians felt 'completely' or 'fairly' confident in all knowledge and skill areas, except for government and community support programs (n = 38%, 30.4%) rated 'somewhat' confident.
Conclusion: Aged care dietitians are confident in most aspects of their role but have opportunities to be better supported. Developing the confidence of higher-level systems and communication in early career dietitians is warranted.
期刊介绍:
Nutrition & Dietetics is the official journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia. Covering all aspects of food, nutrition and dietetics, the Journal provides a forum for the reporting, discussion and development of scientifically credible knowledge related to human nutrition and dietetics. Widely respected in Australia and around the world, Nutrition & Dietetics publishes original research, methodology analyses, research reviews and much more. The Journal aims to keep health professionals abreast of current knowledge on human nutrition and diet, and accepts contributions from around the world.