Comparing knowledge, attitudes and practices in nutrition advocacy to patients by osteopathic students and qualified graduates from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM): An exploratory study
Item
- Title
- Comparing knowledge, attitudes and practices in nutrition advocacy to patients by osteopathic students and qualified graduates from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM): An exploratory study
- Author(s)
- Thompson, Ben
- Abstract
-
BackgroundNutrition advocacy is an important part of preventative medicine. Osteopathy is a form of primary care, hence osteopaths see patients with long standing chronic illnesses. However to date, nutrition education has had only slight attention in Osteopathic and Allopathic medical schools the world over. Moreover, the osteopathic profession lacks a clear framework for evidence-based nutrition competency. In comparing Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in nutrition counselling to patients by osteopathic students and qualified graduates from a single osteopathic college, an overview of nutrition advocacy can be established. ObjectiveTo assess 3rd and 4th year students’ self-perceived Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in giving nutrition advice to patients and compare it to those that have qualified from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine and that are in current practice. MethodsUsing a cross-sectional approach, a total of 44 clinical-year osteopathic students and 30 graduate osteopaths completed a 33-item modified questionnaire (NUTCOMP tool). Students were divided into “Year 3” and “Year 4” groups, while graduates were divided into “Graduates =10” years and “Graduates > 10” years experience. The questionnaire was divided into 4 sections, with items being scored on a 5-point Likert scale. The scores for each section were added up and compared forgroup mean differences using a non-parametric, one-way analysis of variance (Kruskal-Wallis) test.
ResultsThere were no statistical significant differences between the groups, in the means of total sum of sections. However, there were some statistically significant differences between mean group practice and attitude scores, but no meaningful trend could be established. “Graduates =10” appeared to score the highest in all sections of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices. All groups scored the highest in the Attitudes and lowest in the Knowledge. The majority of participants felt in need of more nutrition training to support them in their current role. ConclusionDue to the small sample size and variance in means, no meaningful statistical trends could be interpreted from the data. It was found that both students and graduates have positive attitudes toward nutrition advocacy and this should be used to strengthen the narrative in developing a nutrition advocacy framework for the osteopathic profession.
- presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 2017
- Date Submitted
- 12.11.2018 12:59:47
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 50
- Submitted by:
- 4457
- Pub-Identifier
- 16235
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Keywords
- osteopathy, osteopathic medicine, undergraduate nutrition education, healthcare professionals, NUTCOMP tool, knowledge attitudes and practices
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Thompson, Ben, “Comparing knowledge, attitudes and practices in nutrition advocacy to patients by osteopathic students and qualified graduates from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM): An exploratory study”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 3, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2120