Informing Evidence-based Practice in Nutritional Genomics: An Educational Needs Assessment of Nutrition Care Providers in Canada.

To investigate why Canadian nutrition care providers choose, or not, to integrate nutritional genomics into practice, and to evaluate the nutritional genomics training/education experiences and needs of nutrition providers in Canada, while comparing those of dietitians to non-dietitians. A cross-sectional online survey was distributed across Canada from June 2021 to April 2022. In total, 457 healthcare providers (HCPs) [ = 371 dietitians (81.2%)] met the inclusion criteria. The majority ( = 372; 82.1%) reported having no experience offering nutritional genomics to clients ( = 4 did not respond). Of the 81 respondents with experience (17.9%), the most common reason to integrate nutrigenetic testing into practice was the perception that clients would be more motivated to change their eating habits (70.4%), while the most common reason for not integrating such tests was the perception that the nutrigenetic testing process is too complicated ( = 313; 84.1%). Dietitians were more likely than non-dietitians to view existing scientific evidence as an important educational topic ( = 0.002). The most selected useful educational resource by all HCPs was clinical practice guidelines ( = 364; 85.4%). Both dietitians and non-dietitians express a desire for greater nutritional genomics training/education; specific educational needs differ by type of HCP. Low implementation of nutrigenetic testing may be partly attributed to other identified barriers.