Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia.
School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2023 Feb;36(1):86-96. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13073. Epub 2022 Aug 22.
The Australian 2021 Royal Commission identified that the dietetic workforce needs to grow in size and capacity to support nutrition care in older adults. However, little is known about dietitians' knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA) regarding working with older adults in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) or their homes. This review describes dietitians' KSA regarding older adults in RACFs and home care services.
A systematic literature search was conducted in August 2021 to identify studies examining any aspect of dietitians or student dietitians' KSA working in RACFs and home care services. No restrictions were applied to methodological design, language, location or publication year. Studies were assessed for quality using the Johanna Briggs Institute Quality Appraisal Tools. Study findings were analysed thematically using meta-synthesis.
All 17 studies that met the inclusion criteria explored dietitians' attitudes towards their role, three studies examined perceived knowledge, although no studies objectively explored dietitians' skill levels. Five themes were developed inductively: (1) recognising their contribution as dietitians; (2) lacking clarity about the boundaries of their role; (3) all team members have a role to play in nutrition care; (4) assumptions and biases about working with older people; and (5) needing to build capacity in the workforce.
Dietitians have mixed attitudes about working in RACFs and home care services. Future directions include evaluating dietitians' role in RACFs, reviewing education and training and practical opportunities for student dietitians, and assessing the impact of more dietitian support on an older person's dietary intake and nutrition.
澳大利亚 2021 年皇家委员会指出，营养学家队伍需要在规模和能力上扩大，以支持老年人的营养护理。然而，对于营养师在养老院和家庭护理服务中为老年人提供营养服务的知识、技能和态度（KSA），人们知之甚少。本综述描述了营养师在养老院和家庭护理服务中为老年人提供营养服务的 KSA。
2021 年 8 月进行了系统文献检索，以确定研究任何方面的营养师或学生营养师在养老院和家庭护理服务中的 KSA 的研究。对方法设计、语言、地点或出版年份没有限制。使用 Johanna Briggs 研究所质量评估工具评估研究质量。使用元综合分析方法对研究结果进行主题分析。
符合纳入标准的所有 17 项研究都探讨了营养师对其角色的态度，三项研究检查了他们对知识的看法，尽管没有研究客观地探讨营养师的技能水平。归纳出五个主题：（1）认识到他们作为营养师的贡献；（2）对角色界限认识不清；（3）所有团队成员在营养护理中都有作用；（4）对与老年人合作的假设和偏见；（5）需要在劳动力中提高能力。
营养师对在养老院和家庭护理服务中工作的态度不一。未来的方向包括评估营养师在养老院中的角色、审查教育和培训以及学生营养师的实践机会，并评估更多营养师支持对老年人饮食摄入和营养的影响。
