The future for the Australian Nutrition Foundation: A survey assessing members' nutrition information needs

The Australian Nutrition Foundation (ANF) conducted a survey of members which investigated their nutrition information needs together with their preferred communication formats, considering the technological advances in informatics. The survey was completed by 103 respondents with a large proportion of health professionals represented. It was found that members were quite satisfied with the performance of the ANF in critical areas like nutrition updates, but less satisfied with the ANF's response to topical nutrition issues in the media. Health professionals used the ANF as a source of nutrition information significantly less often than other occupation categories like teachers and the general public. Strategies were presented which could help the ANF management provide an improved service to the health professionals, a sector which is considered to be very important by the ANF. Print and electronic communication formats were those most preferred by the respondents for their nutrition information needs. Implications for the future directions of the ANF are discussed.