Professional development preferences and needs of healthcare providers working with older adults on exercise and nutrition: results of key informant interviews.

Abstract

Most older adults want to age in place, and evidence-based health behaviours that support aging in place include healthy diets and physical activity. Healthcare professionals need training in the science and practice of nutrition and physical activity to support their older adult clients to age in place. In this study we investigated knowledge gaps among healthcare professionals and the organizations that employ them regarding exercise and nutrition for older adults. We also aimed to identify their perceptions of effective and ineffective continuing education approaches, how they choose continuing education opportunities, and what formats they prefer when engaging in continuing education. Using key informant interviews and an interpretive description approach, we identified four themes: "Being pragmatic about professional development", "Matching format to need", "Negotiating the tension between the convenience of online and the effectiveness of in-person learning", and "Focusing on practice is critical". Participants also identified current gaps in professional development offerings and desires for additional continuing education opportunities on certain topics, such as nutrition and aging, and dealing with multimorbidity. Participants indicated that continuing education offerings should reflect common health conditions that providers encounter in practice and that there should be a balance between online and in-person offerings. Participants also indicated that continuing education should focus on changing or improving practice, to assist healthcare providers in supporting older adults aging in place in their communities.