Utilization and effectiveness of nutrition resources in primary healthcare settings: a systematic search and review

Healthy nutrition, in addition to medicines, is essential for the management of non-communicable diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Primary healthcare professionals (PHCPs), including pharmacists, are well positioned to provide nutrition advice to patients. However, they also report to be time poor and lack sufficient nutrition education and knowledge. Therefore, access to reliable, evidence-based nutrition educational resources is important for the ability of this essential workforce to deliver nutrition counseling to patients. This systematic search and review aimed to explore brief nutrition resources utilized by PHCPs for patient education, including resource design, content, and outcomes of resource use.

A systematic search was conducted across the databases Scopus, Medline, Embase, and CINAHL of studies published in the past 20 years.

Of 1914 papers, 19 papers matched the inclusion criteria. Written, verbal, and digital nutrition resources were utilized in various formats, including pamphlets (n = 14), videos (n = 1), websites (n = 2), Apps (n = 2), booklets (n = 1), webinars (n = 1), and sheets to record information (n = 1). Three important resource characteristics were identified: (i) specific nutrient and food group advice, (ii) illustrations and population-specific language, and (iii) elements to foster behavior change. Most studies (n = 18) reported positive outcomes, including improved attitudes and patient knowledge about nutrition as well as better self-reported dietary habits and overall health.

Brief nutrition resources utilized by pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and dentists were effective in delivering nutrition information, resulting in improved self-reported outcomes for patients. In addition, combining written resources with brief counseling increased patient understanding of nutrition information.