Digitalisation of Medical Nutrition Therapy during COVID-19 Pandemic

Nutrition and clinical dietetic services provide evidence-based support which has become essential for maintaining healthy lifestyle and avoiding malnutrition among population. National health with digital technology integration is gaining importance in the current COVID-19 pandemic scenario. Digital health technologies offer valuable means for community to create and share information about healthcare. Measurement of food intake, energy expenditure and constant interaction in the form of personalized information has been offered by digital nutrition platforms. A 3 month study was conducted to assess the preferences of hand-held device users towards means of diet consultation using digital media when compared to traditional diet consultation methods, seeking options to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) integrated cloud based digital health solution. It involved a Google survey using the digital platform, WhatsApp and Face book channels. Of the different criteria offered, diet consultation using smart phones scored the maximum (84.1%, n=1062) which were taken as the supportive data to develop the digital diet consultation application for hand-held device users for personalized nutrition / diet consultation support. Along with that, secondary data analysis of people choosing digital diet consultation for a period of 16 months had been observed and an increasing trend towards the same was found out. COVID-19 has brought the benefit of being able to utilize digital solutions to nutrition practice, rather than those being options for ‘add on’.