Wills Olivia, Bradford Alaina, Bostick Mona, Probst Yasmine, Titcomb Tyler J
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
Department of Neurology, UC Health, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA.
Nutrients. 2025 Jan 22;17(3):385. doi: 10.3390/nu17030385.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are allied healthcare professionals who can help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) incorporate healthy eating, but little is known about their involvement in MS care. Thus, the objective of this survey was to investigate the perceptions and utilization of RDNs in MS care among multidisciplinary MS providers in the United States and Canada.
An online survey was disseminated via the Consortium of MS Centers email listserv and MS-specific scientific conferences. The survey queried practitioner type, RDN referrals, the perceived benefits of RDNs in MS care, and the proportion of their patients who follow 'MS diets' or have nutrition-related issues. Reasons for or against RDN referral and beneficial resources were also queried.
Of the 60 completed surveys, respondents were primarily neurologists ( = 27, 45.0%). Most ( = 43, 71.7%) indicated that half or more of their patients inquire about diet, but = 32 (53.3%) indicated that very few follow an 'MS diet' and = 47 (78.3%) indicated that very few decline disease-modifying therapies to follow an 'MS diet'. Most ( = 45, 77.6%) respondents indicated referring their patients to a RDN with lack of nutrition knowledge/general healthy eating advice ( = 34, 73.9%) and overweight/obesity ( = 31, 67.4%) as being the most common reasons for referral. RDNs were reported as being helpful or extremely helpful by = 38 (84.4%) of respondents who reported referring to RDNs. Most ( = 46, 79.3%) indicated that their patients would benefit from having an RDN with MS-specialized training as a member of staff.
MS care providers support the need for RDNs with specialized training in MS care.
背景/目的：注册营养师是联合医疗保健专业人员，他们可以帮助多发性硬化症（MS）患者养成健康的饮食习惯，但人们对他们参与MS护理的情况知之甚少。因此，本次调查的目的是研究美国和加拿大多学科MS护理提供者对注册营养师在MS护理中的认知和利用情况。
通过MS中心联盟的电子邮件列表和特定于MS的科学会议进行在线调查。该调查询问了从业者类型、向注册营养师的转诊情况、注册营养师在MS护理中的感知益处，以及其患者遵循“MS饮食”或有营养相关问题的比例。还询问了转诊或不转诊注册营养师的原因以及有益资源。
在60份完成的调查问卷中，受访者主要是神经科医生（27人，占45.0%）。大多数（43人，占71.7%）表示他们一半或更多的患者会询问饮食问题，但32人（占53.3%）表示很少有患者遵循“MS饮食”，47人（占78.3%）表示很少有患者为了遵循“MS饮食”而拒绝疾病修正疗法。大多数（45人，占77.6%）受访者表示，由于缺乏营养知识/一般健康饮食建议（34人，占73.9%）和超重/肥胖（31人，占67.4%），他们会将患者转诊给注册营养师，这是最常见的转诊原因。在报告转诊给注册营养师的受访者中，38人（占84.4%）表示注册营养师有帮助或非常有帮助。大多数（46人，占79.3%）表示，他们的患者会受益于有一名经过MS专业培训的注册营养师作为工作人员。
MS护理提供者支持需要对MS护理进行专门培训的注册营养师。
