Nutrition assessment in process-driven, personalized dietetic intervention - The potential importance of assessing behavioural components to improve behavioural change: results of the EU-funded IMPECD project

Kathrin Kohlenberg-Müller, Sara Ramminger, Alexandra Kolm, Alyanne Barkmeijer, Christina Gast, Marleen Adam, Bente Le Bruyn, Renate Heine-Bröring, Shelly Rachman-Elbaum, Andrea Werkman, Koen Vanherle, Elisabeth Höld, Daniela Wewerka-Kreimel, Luzia Valentini

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although up-to-date definitions for nutrition assessment integrate behavioural components, it is not clear what behavioural components are to be assessed. Since behavioural modification is linked to effective therapeutic dietetic interventions, assessing behaviour and factors influencing behaviour might be beneficial to improve personalized dietetic outcome. The aim of the following report is to emphasize the role of behavioural components and factors affecting behaviour at baseline nutrition assessment in personalized dietetic intervention.

    METHODS: The present work is part of the EU-funded project IMPECD ("Improvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics", www.impecd.eu). The project aims to improve the clarity and consistency of national dietetic process models to unify education and training of future dietitians. Experts from five European Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Antwerp (BE), Fulda (DE), Groningen (NL), Neubrandenburg (DE) and St. Pölten (AT) developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) consisting of several clinical cases. It warranted a detailed evaluation of all dietetic care process steps, starting with nutrition assessment.

    RESULTS: Results for motivation assessed during nutrition assessment are not consistently positively associated with outcome and the added value of assessing them at baseline is still unclear. However, depressive symptoms, emotional distress, and anxiety negatively affect eating and physical activity and therefore limit the efficacy of the dietetic intervention. Assessing behavioural components including nutrition literacy is an important precondition for influence on behavioural modification.

    CONCLUSION: Indisputably, baseline assessment of behavioural components and factors influencing behaviour are important to increase the therapeutic efficacy of personalized dietetic interventions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)125-134
    JournalClinical Nutrition ESPEN
    Volume32
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2019

    Keywords

    • dietitians
    • nutrition
    • behaviour

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