Exploring dietitians’ experiences caring for patients living with obesity in acute care: a qualitative study
Authors' conclusion
The findings from this study provide new insights as to why dietitians may not be providing acute nutrition care for people living with obesity. Strategic leadership from clinical leaders and education providers together with the lived experience perspectives of people with obesity is needed to shift the culture of dietetic professional practice to consider all nutrition care needs of patients living with obesity who are accessing acute hospitals for health care.
Study context
- Population
- Dietitians working in acute care caring for patients living with obesity, four hospitals, Melbourne, Australia
- Participants
- 25 participants4 hospitals
- Outcome
- Experiences of dietitians caring for patients living with obesity in acute hospital settings
Methodological detailsmulti-site, constructivist grounded theory, semi-structured interviews, October 2021 to November 2023, Data analysed by open coding and constant comparison (Charmaz's framework)
- Multi-site
- Constructivist grounded theory
- Semi-structured interviews
- October 2021 to November 2023
- Data analysed by open coding and constant comparison (Charmaz's framework)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Dietitians' experiences (grounded theory)
- Enculturated decision-making process whereby acute clinical dietitians limit acute nutrition care for people living with obesity in hospital
- Five interdependent categories influencing clinical decision-making and practice: (1) culture of professional practice, (2) science and evidence, (3) acknowledgement of weight bias and stigma, (4) dietitian-led care, (5) hospital systems and environment
Original publication
Exploring dietitians’ experiences caring for patients living with obesity in acute care: a qualitative study. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 5 December 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →