Patient-centered care: Dietitians' perspectives and experiences

Area of Science:

• Dietetics and Nutrition
• Healthcare Professional Studies
• Patient-Centered Care Research

Background:

• Patient-centered care (PCC) is crucial in healthcare.
• Understanding Registered Dietitian Nutritionists' (RDNs) perspectives on PCC is essential for optimizing patient outcomes.
• Factors influencing RDNs' adoption and preference for PCC require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore RDNs' definitions and experiences with PCC.
• To measure RDNs' preferences for PCC using the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS).
• To identify factors influencing RDNs' PCC preferences.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 4697 RDNs, including open-ended questions on PCC, the PPOS, and influencing factors.
• Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses and regression analysis were conducted.
• Data were collected from 375 RDNs for PCC descriptions and 318 RDNs for PPOS scores.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged in RDNs' descriptions of PCC: dietitian/patient relationship (95.7%), organizational influence (64.4%), and interprofessional teams (26.3%).
• RDNs scored an average of 4.60/6 on the PPOS, indicating a general preference for PCC.
• Work engagement positively predicted PPOS scores, while heavier workloads and primary work position negatively influenced PCC preferences.

Conclusions:

• RDNs share common themes in defining PCC but also exhibit varied personal experiences.
• RDNs generally prefer PCC, scoring moderately high on the PPOS.
• Workplace factors like manageable workloads and work engagement significantly impact RDNs' PCC preferences.