A Reaction To

Abstract

about Health Nutrition Education for Allied Health Professionals describes an important issue in health care that is the provision of nutrition education. Obesity and chronic disease rates are rapidly increasing. Due to increase in the prevalence rates of obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases, there is a growing need for professionals trained in the delivery of nutrition interventions. The authors of this article suggest that many health professionals may not have adequate training in the area of nutrition. Thus, what happens when registered nurses, medical doctors, physical therapists, health educators, physical educators and other health care professionals are asked to provide nutrition education? The purpose of the current paper is to expand on and update information presented by the authors of What About Health Educators? and to provide clarity regarding the role of nutrition professionals in health education and health promotion as well as to describe ethical and legal issues that may be encountered when health professionals overstep their academic areas of training. Finally, strategies are offered to health care providers to ensure accurate, culturally appropriate nutrition information is provided to their clientele and the public. Many health care professionals appreciate the relationships between health status and nutrition. Some health care professionals have academic training in basic nutrition issues (the equivalent of one, two, or three college-level nutrition classes). However, an enormous gap exists between the expertise gained by completing basic nutrition classes and completing the intense preparation accomplished by the only professional who is academically prepared and who is uniquely qualified to provide nutrition advice beyond basic concepts. This professional is the registered dietitian. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) asserts that standardized nutrition education should be included in the curricula for all health-care professionals: physicians, nurses, physician's assistants, dental hygienists, physical and occupational therapists, social workers, health educators, and all others who provide services directly to clients. The goal is for health care professionals to understand the relevance of nutrition in disease prevention and treatment, to disseminate reliable basic nutrition information, and to recognize when the nutritional needs exceed the basic nutrition knowledge level of the professional. For example, when the client requires a special diet and detailed diet plans and diet instructions, the wise health care professional refers the client to a uniquely qualified nutrition expert--a registered dietitian. REGISTERED DIETITIAN (RD) A registered dietitian (RD) has the educational background necessary to deliver reliable evidence-based nutrition education programs and individualized, culturally appropriate nutrition counseling. To become an RD, a person must earn an undergraduate degree requiring about 60 credit hours in nutrition, food science, behavioral counseling, community intervention techniques, other sciences, and other related subjects from an accredited university. They must also complete a supervised practice program through an accredited institution, pass a national registration exam, and maintain up-to-date knowledge and registration by participating in required continuing education activities, such as attending seminars and taking courses. (1) Almost every state requires a license to practice dietetics within the state. (2) Many registered dietitians are also licensed dietitians. This raises the issue of liability regarding nutrition education. State licensure describes the scope of practice for the nutrition professional and allows only Licensed Dietitians to provide nutrition counseling. When completing nutrition counseling with individual clients, the registered dietitian uses a standardized protocol called the Nutrition Care Process, which includes individualized dietary assessment, diagnosis of nutrition-related problems, an d an individualized nutrition care plan with a follow-up evaluation plan. …