Promotion of physical activity by Canadian Registered Dietitians in daily practice

• Published in: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 37 - 40
• Main Authors: Johnson, S.T, Bates, H, Fitzpatrick, J, Marshall, J.D, Bell, R.C, McCargar, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Adult; Alberta; behavior change; Biological and medical sciences; counseling; Dietetics - education; Dietetics - methods; dietitians; Exercise - physiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; health promotion; Health Promotion - methods; human nutrition; Humans; lifestyle; patient care; Patient Education as Topic; patients; physical activity; referral; registered dietitians; risk factors; surveys; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Canada; Alberta; Physical exercise; Human; Daily; referral; Register; dietitians; physical activity
• ISSN: 0952-3871; 1365-277X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2007.00744.x

Dietitians are in an opportunistic position to promote healthy eating and active living. The purpose of this study was to determine counselling strategies of dietitians 1 year after attending a workshop designed to strengthen dietitians' self-efficacy for promoting physical activity (PA) as an adjunct to regular nutrition practice. A convenience sample of Registered Dietitians (RDs) in Alberta, Canada (n = 103) responded to an invitation via an electronic newsletter to complete a web-based survey that asked about counselling practices related to PA. Thirty-seven workshop attendees (n = 37) were compared with a group of dietitians (n = 66) who completed the survey but who did not attend the workshop. Nearly all (91%) respondents reported promoting PA in daily practice. Those who attended the workshop were more likely to refer clients to PA professionals (χ² = 12.68, P < 0.05) than those who were not workshop attendees. Despite a relatively modest response rate, there were clear suggestions that RDs in Alberta, Canada promote PA in daily practice and attending a workshop designed to facilitate the use of specific tools and strategies for promoting PA in daily practice resulted in increased referral of their clients to exercise specialists.