Identifying Physicians’ and Nurses’ Nutrition Knowledge Using Validated Instruments: A Systematic Narrative Review
Jamie Zeldman, Jeanette Andrade
Abstract
Physicians and nurses, who are knowledgeable in nutrition, improve patients’ health outcomes. However, limited information is provided about the areas of nutrition they are knowledgeable in. This review sought to identify physicians’ and nurses’ nutrition knowledge through validated instruments. A systematic narrative review of the literature was conducted. Three databases - PubMed Central, Science Direct and Embase databases were searched from 1990 until December 2019. Retrieved studies were screened through a predetermined inclusion criterion and data extraction of included studies occurred. Quality assessment and risk of bias of included articles was completed. Thirty-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Instruments to identify nutrition knowledge varied among each study. Mean percentages of nutrition knowledge were between 32.5% correct to 72% correct. Nutrition knowledge was highest in the areas of nutrients’ roles, and food sources/macronutrients, whereas knowledge was lowest in the area of providing medical nutrition therapy. In general, physicians and nurses who were older, considered a specialist, held an advanced degree and/or had more years of practice had higher nutrition knowledge scores. Overall, literature about physicians’ and nurses’ nutrition knowledge is heterogeneous and scant as well as the instruments used to measure this knowledge. Within these limits, nutrition knowledge may be improved in certain areas.