Australian dietitians' confidence in their knowledge and skills working with older adults in aged care: A national survey.

IF 2.6 4区医学 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Nutrition & Dietetics Pub Date : 2024-04-01 Epub Date: 2023-09-06 DOI:10.1111/1747-0080.12837

Karly Bartrim, Wendy Moyle, Olivia R L Wright, Lauren Ball

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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.

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澳大利亚营养师对其为老年人提供护理服务的知识和技能的信心：全国调查。

目的：本研究旨在描述营养师对其在养老机构或家庭护理服务中为老年人提供服务的知识和技能的信心：方法：向老年护理营养师发放了一份新颖的定量在线调查。23个调查项目中包括了澳大利亚营养师协会《老年人和老年护理营养师角色声明》中列出的活动、知识和技能领域。李克特量表记录了参与者的回答。表中列出了回答的中位数（n，%）。使用皮尔逊卡方检验探讨了参与者对其知识和技能的信心与在老年护理领域工作年限之间的关联：营养师完成了调查（N = 125；年龄：40 ± 13 岁 [平均 ± SD]；97.6% 为女性）。营养师表示，他们 "总是 "协同工作（n = 65%，52%），"经常 "处方补充剂（n = 52%，41.6%），并采用 "食物第一 "的方法（n = 36%，28.8%）。营养师 "有时 "进行营养不良筛查（n = 28%，22.4%）、审核（n = 36%，28.8%）、营养教育（n = 53%，42.4%）和质量改进活动（n = 28%，22.4%）。营养师 "很少 "使用食品服务/标准（n = 38%，30.4%）和营养/补水程序（n = 35%，28.0%）。在提供支持计划（p = 0.003）、利用医疗保健政策（p = 0.013）、解释质量评估（p = 0.014）和沟通技巧（p = 0.047）方面，拥有≥6 年经验的营养师比拥有 0-5 年经验的营养师更有信心。营养师对所有知识和技能领域都感到 "完全 "或 "相当 "有信心，但对政府和社区支持计划（n = 38%，30.4%）的信心为 "有点"：结论：老年护理营养师对其职责的大部分方面都有信心，但仍有机会获得更好的支持。有必要培养早期职业营养师对高层次系统和沟通的信心。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nutrition & Dietetics 医学-营养学

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

16.10%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

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.