Pham Quynh Th, Worsley Anthony, Lawrence Mark, Marshall Bernie
Department of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam. Email:
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2017 May;26(3):494-503. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.042016.06.
A core challenge for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in combating the negative effects of the nutrition transition is to implement appropriate prevention strategies to halt the increasing prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), against a background of prevailing under nutrition. There have been several proposals for the enhancement of university nutrition education for future health and related professionals who are expected to communicate knowledge of health risks to the broad community. However, little is known about university nutrition education in LMICs. The present study aimed to investigate professional development opportunities and barriers for university nutrition lecturers to teach public health nutrition (PHN).
An online survey was conducted among 242 Vietnamese health and education professionals and university nutrition lecturers across Vietnam. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Comparisons of between the groups' responses were examined via SPSS Crosstabs. The structures of the perceived barriers and desired PHN training topics were examined via factor analyses. Multiple linear regression examined the influences on lecturers' learning interests in nutrition areas.
The lecturers' learning interests spanned four areas: basic nutrition, basic food, food policy and 'new' trends (e.g. food policy, marketing). Major impediments to nutrition teaching in universities divided into two groups: resource limitations and professional constraints (e.g. lack of relevant training opportunities). The lecturers' perceptions of professional constraints influenced their interest in learning about 'new' trends.
The results highlighted the need and opportunities to enhance PHN professional development for nutrition lecturers in Vietnam.
中低收入国家（LMICs）在应对营养转型的负面影响时面临的一个核心挑战是，在普遍存在营养不良的背景下，实施适当的预防策略，以遏制肥胖和非传染性疾病（NCDs）患病率的上升。针对未来有望向广大社区传播健康风险知识的健康及相关专业人员，已有多项关于加强大学营养教育的提议。然而，对于中低收入国家的大学营养教育情况却知之甚少。本研究旨在调查大学营养讲师开展公共卫生营养（PHN）教学的专业发展机会和障碍。
对越南全国242名健康与教育专业人员及大学营养讲师进行了在线调查。采用目的抽样法招募参与者。通过SPSS交叉表对各组的回答进行比较。通过因子分析研究了感知障碍和期望的公共卫生营养培训主题的结构。多元线性回归分析了对讲师在营养领域学习兴趣的影响。
讲师们的学习兴趣涵盖四个领域：基础营养、基础食品、食品政策和“新”趋势（如食品政策、市场营销）。大学营养教学的主要障碍分为两类：资源限制和专业限制（如缺乏相关培训机会）。讲师们对专业限制的认知影响了他们对“新”趋势学习的兴趣。
研究结果凸显了加强越南营养讲师公共卫生营养专业发展的必要性和机会。
