Downie Laura E, Barrett Clare, Keller Peter R
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Marie-Claire O'Shea Dietitians, Ashmore, Queensland, Australia.
Nutrition. 2015 May;31(5):669-77. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2014.10.020. Epub 2014 Dec 3.
The aim of this study was to investigate the personal nutrition-related attitudes and behaviors of Australian optometrists and, in particular, their understanding of the evidence relating to the merit of specific dietary supplements, as applicable to their own health.
An online survey was distributed to optometrists registered in Australia (N = 4242). Respondents anonymously provided information regarding their demographic characteristics (age, sex, practice location and modality), diet and lifestyle behaviors (assessment of self-perceived diet quality, smoking status), and nutritional supplement intake (including the rationale for consumption).
Completed surveys were received from 283 practitioners. Although most respondents considered themselves to eat a healthy, balanced diet, approximately 75% indicated taking nutritional supplements in the preceding year. The four most common supplements were fish oil/ω-3 (62%), multivitamins (54%), vitamin C (30%), and vitamin D (29%). In addition to vitamin D, which was typically recommended by a general medical practitioner for an established deficiency, the other three supplement categories were consumed on the basis of the respondents' self-assessment and decision. Analyses of the motivations for taking these supplements highlighted a significant misunderstanding of the evidence; furthermore, these practitioners appeared to base their personal behaviors on this misinterpretation.
These findings demonstrate scope for optometrists to enhance their critical thinking and/or understanding of the available evidence relating to the merit, or otherwise, of nutritional supplementation in managing their own health, and more broadly, improving their understanding of what a healthy diet is and its role in eye health.
本研究旨在调查澳大利亚验光师与营养相关的个人态度和行为，特别是他们对特定膳食补充剂功效相关证据的理解，以及这些证据对其自身健康的适用性。
向在澳大利亚注册的验光师（N = 4242）发放了一份在线调查问卷。受访者匿名提供了有关其人口统计学特征（年龄、性别、执业地点和方式）、饮食和生活方式行为（自我感知饮食质量评估、吸烟状况）以及营养补充剂摄入情况（包括服用理由）的信息。
共收到283名从业者完成的调查问卷。尽管大多数受访者认为自己饮食健康、均衡，但约75%的受访者表示在前一年服用了营养补充剂。最常见的四种补充剂是鱼油/ω-3（62%）、多种维生素（54%）、维生素C（30%）和维生素D（29%）。除了因确诊缺乏症而通常由全科医生推荐的维生素D外，其他三类补充剂的服用是基于受访者的自我评估和决定。对服用这些补充剂动机的分析突出了对相关证据的重大误解；此外，这些从业者似乎基于这种误解来做出个人行为。
这些研究结果表明，验光师有必要加强批判性思维和/或加深对营养补充剂在自身健康管理中的功效（或其他方面）现有证据的理解，更广泛地说，要提高他们对健康饮食的理解以及健康饮食在眼部健康中的作用。
