Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 Era
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about various restrictions around the world, and its impact on healthcare has been enormous: RDNs have had to shift from in-person interactions with clients to telenutrition consultations, encountering obstacles. We designed the first survey to investigate the chang...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/7/1359 |
| _version_ | 1797438222081458176 |
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| author | Patrizia Gnagnarella Yvelise Ferro Taira Monge Ersilia Troiano Tiziana Montalcini Arturo Pujia Elisa Mazza |
| author_facet | Patrizia Gnagnarella Yvelise Ferro Taira Monge Ersilia Troiano Tiziana Montalcini Arturo Pujia Elisa Mazza |
| author_sort | Patrizia Gnagnarella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about various restrictions around the world, and its impact on healthcare has been enormous: RDNs have had to shift from in-person interactions with clients to telenutrition consultations, encountering obstacles. We designed the first survey to investigate the changes in RDN practices related to telenutrition provision after the onset of the pandemic through an online survey in Italy. Four hundred and thirty-six responses were analyzed. Before the pandemic, only 16% of Italian RDNs provided telenutrition; this percentage increased significantly up to 63% (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Among patients, the lack of interest in accessing telenutrition (30.9%) and the Internet (16.7%) were the most frequently reported barriers. Among RDNs, one of the main obstacles was their inability to conduct nutritional evaluation or monitoring activities (24.4%). Our survey indicated that increased adoption of telenutrition can be a valid, safe alternative to face-to-face visits. Telenutrition was mainly used by young RDNs (20–39 years) with fewer years of professional experience (0–20 years) and master’s degrees. Remote nutrition can enable RDNs to maintain normal workloads and provide patients with uninterrupted access to nutritional healthcare. It is important that RDNs using telemedicine resources possess the ability to provide high-quality, efficient, and secure services using evidence-based guidance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:34:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f7f0452aea674d8b8441d9d358459474 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:34:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-f7f0452aea674d8b8441d9d3584594742023-11-30T23:47:06ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-03-01147135910.3390/nu14071359Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 EraPatrizia Gnagnarella0Yvelise Ferro1Taira Monge2Ersilia Troiano3Tiziana Montalcini4Arturo Pujia5Elisa Mazza6Associazione Tecnico Scientifica dell’Alimentazione Nutrizione e Dietetica (ASAND), Technical Scientific Association of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, 90144 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Science, University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyAssociazione Tecnico Scientifica dell’Alimentazione Nutrizione e Dietetica (ASAND), Technical Scientific Association of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, 90144 Palermo, ItalyAssociazione Tecnico Scientifica dell’Alimentazione Nutrizione e Dietetica (ASAND), Technical Scientific Association of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, 90144 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Science, University Magna Grecia, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyAssociazione Tecnico Scientifica dell’Alimentazione Nutrizione e Dietetica (ASAND), Technical Scientific Association of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, 90144 Palermo, ItalyThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought about various restrictions around the world, and its impact on healthcare has been enormous: RDNs have had to shift from in-person interactions with clients to telenutrition consultations, encountering obstacles. We designed the first survey to investigate the changes in RDN practices related to telenutrition provision after the onset of the pandemic through an online survey in Italy. Four hundred and thirty-six responses were analyzed. Before the pandemic, only 16% of Italian RDNs provided telenutrition; this percentage increased significantly up to 63% (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Among patients, the lack of interest in accessing telenutrition (30.9%) and the Internet (16.7%) were the most frequently reported barriers. Among RDNs, one of the main obstacles was their inability to conduct nutritional evaluation or monitoring activities (24.4%). Our survey indicated that increased adoption of telenutrition can be a valid, safe alternative to face-to-face visits. Telenutrition was mainly used by young RDNs (20–39 years) with fewer years of professional experience (0–20 years) and master’s degrees. Remote nutrition can enable RDNs to maintain normal workloads and provide patients with uninterrupted access to nutritional healthcare. It is important that RDNs using telemedicine resources possess the ability to provide high-quality, efficient, and secure services using evidence-based guidance.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/7/1359telenutritionnutrition assessmentCOVID-19 pandemicdietitianstelehealth |
| spellingShingle | Patrizia Gnagnarella Yvelise Ferro Taira Monge Ersilia Troiano Tiziana Montalcini Arturo Pujia Elisa Mazza Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 Era Nutrients telenutrition nutrition assessment COVID-19 pandemic dietitians telehealth |
| title | Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 Era |
| title_full | Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 Era |
| title_fullStr | Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 Era |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 Era |
| title_short | Telenutrition: Changes in Professional Practice and in the Nutritional Assessments of Italian Dietitian Nutritionists in the COVID-19 Era |
| title_sort | telenutrition changes in professional practice and in the nutritional assessments of italian dietitian nutritionists in the covid 19 era |
| topic | telenutrition nutrition assessment COVID-19 pandemic dietitians telehealth |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/7/1359 |
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