Nutrition-related knowledge, beliefs and practices of Australian nursing staff

Nowak, Madeleine, Harrison, Simone, and Hutton, Lesley (2007) Nutrition-related knowledge, beliefs and practices of Australian nursing staff. Nutrition and Dietetics, 64 (2). pp. 121-126.

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Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the general food and nutrition-related beliefs and knowledge of nursing professionals attending post-partum women.

Design: Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire.

Subjects: Three hundred and sixty-two hospital-based nursing staff responsible for the care of post-parturient women.

Setting: Eight metropolitan and regional hospitals in Queensland and three maternity hospitals in Canberra.

Main outcome measures: Beliefs, opinions and intentions relating to food, nutrition and weight; knowledge of requirements of core foods; and sources of nutrition information.

Statistical analysis: Standard statistical tests were used to measure frequencies and assess bivariate relationships.

Results: Almost all participants (97.8%) were confident they could give good advice to their patients about a healthy balanced diet. The majority (65.5%) reported providing such advice at least weekly, 27.9% daily, and 19.5% rarely or never gave nutritional advice. The food-related beliefs of most participants (>85%) were in line with current knowledge for 78% of questions. However, their knowledge of core food requirements for adults was inadequate; only 0.6% gave correct answers to all four food intake questions, 16.8% gave three correct answers, 62% two and 20.7% one correct answer. The most commonly cited sources of nutrition information were professional training (51.4%), reading (38.7%), media (14.9%), self-education and work-related experience (10.8%), dietitian (10.5%), school (7.5%), family (6.4%) and dieting (5.0%).

Conclusion: Nursing staff frequently provide nutritional advice to post-partum women. There is a need to ensure such information is accurate. Further research should explore ways in which this can be achieved.

Item ID: 2448
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1747-0080
Keywords: food; knowledge; belief; practices; post-partum women; self-administered questionnaire; nursing staff; nutrition
Date Deposited: 20 Jul 2009 03:08
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics > 111199 Nutrition and Dietetics not elsewhere classified @ 50%
11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111706 Epidemiology @ 25%
11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111716 Preventive Medicine @ 25%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920411 Nutrition @ 50%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920401 Behaviour and Health @ 25%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920412 Preventive Medicine @ 25%
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