General practitioners' views on providing nutrition care to patients with chronic disease: a focus group study

INTRODUCTION Nutrition care refers to practices conducted by health professionals to support patients to improve their dietary intake. General practitioners (GPs) are expected to provide nutrition care to patients for prevention and management of chronic disease. AIM This study explores GPs' opinions regarding nutrition care provision to patients with chronic disease. METHODS An interpretive descriptive approach to qualitative research using seven semi-structured focus groups with 48 GPs in Auckland was used. Focus groups investigated how GPs felt about providing nutrition care; the perceived barriers to and support required for this care; the development of further nutrition knowledge and skills; and possible roles for Practice Nurses. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach. RESULTS GPs indicated routine provision of basic nutrition care to patients with chronic disease, but perceived their limited consultation time and nutrition competence constrained their capacity to provide nutrition care. GPs felt they needed further information to provide culturally, socially and economically sensitive nutrition care. GPs displayed variable opinions on the benefits of developing their nutrition knowledge and skills, and the idea of Practice Nurses providing nutrition care. CONCLUSIONS Despite perceiving that nutrition care is important for patients with chronic disease and facing barriers to providing nutrition care, GPs appear reluctant to further develop their knowledge and skills and for Practice Nurses to provide this care. Strategies to enhance GPs' nutrition-related self-efficacy, nutrition cultural competence and attitudes towards further training care may be warranted.