Better to see GP than dietitian
Date:
Thu, 11/10/2012
Spokesperson:
Griffith University
In a blow to GPs and dietitians in Australia’s stressed public health system, Griffith research has found that two lines of information from a GP could be more effective for a patient than five visits to a dietitian.
The research highlights not just the changing role of GPs, but the added pressure placed on them by governments desperate to pull back ballooning health budgets through preventative health.
The study was the focus of a PhD by Lauren Ball from Griffith University’s School of Public Health.
“What our research has told us is that two lines of information from a doctor may be enough to motivate a patient to improve their diet,” said Ms Ball. “Although a dietitian knows more about food, people are not so prepared to act on their information. Also, people want to go to a doctor once, and they respect what the doctor says.
“It’s basically the power of the doctor in our society. If your GP says ‘stop eating crap and get some exercise’ the patient will do it. If a dietitian says the same thing, people can be sceptical, or worse just won’t turn up to the consultation at all.”
Ms Ball’s research says the structure of interdisciplinary care needs fixing, with allied health professionals such as dietitians and doctors rarely seeing eye-to-eye on possible changes, despite the extra pressure and work heaped on the GPs.
The results also work against the Federal government’s “patient centred care” focus and the goals of the Preventative Health Taskforce, established in 2010.
“GPs don’t actually feel that confident giving out this sort of nutrition information. On the one hand the GPs need more support and training to give out basic advice, but allied health professionals rely on GPs for referrals so they don’t think GPs should give out nutrition information. It’s also a matter of professional viability,” Ms Ball said.
Ms Ball completed her PhD through Griffith’s Nutrition and Dietetics program and her ultimate goal was to explore the role of GPs in delivering nutrition information to patients.
MEDIA CONTACT: Communications officer Louise Durack 07 5552 8654 OR 0419 649 516
