Exploring Dietitians' Engagement with Health Literacy: Concept and Practice

Recognition of health literacy as a serious problem in Canada calls for all health practitioners to rethink how they provide health information. This qualitative research study explored how Canadian dietitians understand the multifaceted concept of health literacy and, if and how, they apply it in their practice.

Nine dietetic or nutrition practitioners from different practice settings were purposely selected through an environmental scan of health literacy interventions, professional networks, and interviewee snowballing. Qualitative data were collected using conversational-style personal interviews and thematically analyzed through an iterative process of constant comparison.

All participants recognized value in addressing health literacy in their practice with many barriers and enablers to its application identified. Participants referred to difficulties in communicating nutrition information to people with low levels of functional literacy, reflective of a deficit approach to health literacy. However, practices consistent with the more empowering concepts of interactive and critical health literacy, reflective of an asset-based approach, were also described.

This research provides a preliminary picture of how dietitians engage with health literacy in various settings in Canada and suggests implications for developing strengths-based health literacy approaches to dietetic practice.