A case study of the impact of a dietitian in the multi-disciplinary team within primary care: a service evaluation

Exploring registered dietitians' contributions and educational needs in primary care: Insights for health leaders

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are essential professionals within Canadian Team-Based Primary Care (TBPC). RDs utilize practice competencies to ensure provision of high-quality care while working closely with other TBPC members. To fill in the gaps in the literature, the study's objective was to explore RDs' perception of their contributions to TBPC settings and their educational needs. This will help inform health leaders who manage interdisciplinary teams. A survey was distributed to Canadian TBPC RDs. They (n = 73) reported contributing to nutrition care for various populations, managing a large range of nutrition problems, and using competencies from multiple practice domains. Furthermore, they identified their need to enhance their knowledge about cultural safety within TBPC, as well as their interdisciplinary teams' need to increase their awareness of the dietetic scope of practice. Identifying RDs' contributions, competencies, and learning needs helps inform Canadian health leaders to improve care.

Planting the Seed for Blood Pressure Control: The Role of Plant-Based Nutrition in the Management of Hypertension

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hypertension results in significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditures. Fortunately, it is largely preventable and treatable by implementing dietary interventions, though these remain underutilized. Here, we aim to explore the role of healthy dietary patterns in hypertension management and describe approaches for busy clinicians to address nutrition effectively and efficiently with patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

DASH, Mediterranean, vegetarian, and vegan diets that include minimally processed, plant-based foods as core elements have consistently shown positive effects on hypertension. Recommendations that distill the most healthful components of these diets can significantly impact patient outcomes. Clinicians can harness evidence-based dietary assessment and counseling tools to implement and support behavioral changes, even during brief office visits. Healthful plant-based dietary patterns can often effectively prevent and treat hypertension. Clinicians may help improve patient outcomes by discussing evidence-based nutrition with their patients. Future work to promote infrastructural change that supports incorporating evidence-based nutrition into medical education, clinical care, and society at large can support these efforts.