Does duration of nutrition counseling in the primary care setting correlate with patient dietary behavior? A scoping review

Abstract

Background

Many Americans look to primary care physicians (PCPs) for education on how to lead healthier lives. Understanding the duration of nutrition education necessary for PCPs to produce a behavioral impact may inform physician appointment recommendations.

Aim

To assess whether the duration of nutrition education given by PCPs correlates with changes in dietary behavior, or secondarily, health status, among patients without complex chronic disease.

Methods

PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed for this scoping review. Inclusion criteria of our review included: PCPs providing nutrition/dietary education, dietary intervention, adult participants, original research, manuscript published in English, study conducted in the U.S., and published 2011-present. Databases searched: PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus. Exclusion criteria included: patients experiencing complex chronic health conditions. Data extracted included: study design, description of PCP dietary intervention, length of nutrition education, and general directions of health/behavioral outcomes.

Results

Three reviewed papers studying behavioral interventions that included PCP nutrition education yielded a positive impact on patient outcomes such as dietary behavior and/or weight loss, though only two of the three studies yielded results that achieved statistical significance.

Conclusion

There appears to be an important role for nutrition education in the primary care setting. However, our review exposed great need for further research on the specific association between duration of nutrition counseling and resulting changes in dietary and health outcomes.