Dietitians' experiences of nutrition assessment via TeleNutrition: “Video-calls are better than phone-calls, but it's probably difficult for patients to show their ankles on the screen”

Background & Aims

Nutrition assessment is integral to dietetic practice. TeleNutrition enabled dietitians to continue nutrition care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic but created challenges with undertaking nutrition assessment. The aim of the present study was to describe how dietitians in three Nordic countries perceived their nutrition assessment practice when physically distant from patients.

Methods

The present study is a sub-analysis from one research project undertaken by the Global TeleNutrition Consortium, GTNC. Data was generated from a digital survey of a convenience sample of dietitians in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden who had a minimum of one adult patient interaction per week, distributed through the dietetic professional and/or regulatory bodies of each country, as well as closed social networks. Data from free-text questions were assessed using thematic analysis where the construction of final themes were guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).

Results

In total, 146 dietitians participated in the study (Denmark 16%, Norway 34%, and Sweden 50%). The qualitative analysis of answers from 24 free-text questions resulted in four themes (key constructs) related to dietitians' experience of performing nutrition assessment using TeleNutrition: Perceived usefulness, Perceived ease of use, Perceived barriers, and Perceived facilitators. Each theme was divided into two to three sub-themes (explanatory dimensions).

Conclusions

To best support dietitians in the new era of healthcare digitalisation, internationally accepted standards or protocols for performing nutrition assessment using TeleNutrition ought to be established. This is especially critical for nutrition assessment measures that require physical examination.