| Literature DB >> 32596950 |
Jaimon T Kelly1, Margaret Allman-Farinelli2, Juliana Chen2, Stephanie R Partridge3, Clare Collins4, Megan Rollo4, Rebecca Haslam4, Tara Diversi, Katrina L Campbell1.
Abstract
It is the position of Dietitians Australia that clients can receive high-quality and effective dietetic services such as Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) delivered via telehealth. Outcomes of telehealth-delivered dietetic consultations are comparable to those delivered in-person, without requiring higher levels of additional training nor compromising quality of service provision. Dietitians Australia recommends that policy makers and healthcare funders broaden the recognition for telehealth-delivered dietetic consultations as a responsive and cost-effective alternative or complement to traditional in-person delivery of dietetic services. The successful implementation of telehealth can help to address health and service inequalities, improve access to effective nutrition services, and support people with chronic disease to optimise their diet-related health and well-being, regardless of their location, income or literacy level, thereby addressing current inequities.Entities:
Keywords: chronic disease; diet; digital health; nutrition; telehealth
Year: 2020 PMID: 32596950 PMCID: PMC7540717 DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12619
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Nutr Diet ISSN: 1446-6368 Impact factor: 2.333
Summary of telephone‐delivered dietetic services and improved diet and clinical outcomes in people with chronic disease
| Outcome reported | Number of studies and participants meta‐analysed | Effect size |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit intake | 4 studies, 670 participants | MD 0.33 serves/day [95% CI: 0.18‐0.47; |
| Vegetable intake | 4 studies, 670 participants | MD 0.53 serves/day [95% CI: 0.21‐0.84; |
| Fibre intake | 4 studies, 1418 participants | MD 1.82 g/day [95% CI: 1.06‐2.58; |
| Fat intake | 4 studies, 1418 participants | SMD 0.20% of total energy expenditure [95% CI: −0.31 to −0.09; |
| Physical activity | 4 studies, 708 participants | SMD 2.54 minutes per day [95% CI: 0.71‐4.38; |
| Body weight | 7 studies, 1543 participants | MD −1.04 kg [95% CI: −1.634 to −0.45; |
| Waist circumference | 3 studies, 435 participants | MD −2.13 cm [95% CI: −4.23 to −0.03; |
| Cardiovascular disease risk | 1 study, 199 participants | The cardiovascular disease risk reduced in telephone group, but rose in control patients ( |
Abbreviations: MD, mean difference; SMD, standardised mean difference.
Evidence‐based recommendations for telehealth‐delivered consultations
| Practice area | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Weight management |
Telephone counselling is effective for management of overweight and obesity in primary care. |
| Chronic disease management |
Telephone and videoconference nutrition consultations improves diet, physical activity levels and reduces body weight in people with chronic conditions. Telephone and videoconference consultations are just as effective as in‐person delivered MNT. |
| Malnutrition |
Telephone counselling is effective for the prevention and management of malnutrition in the community. |
| Digital health |
Digital health solutions (including eHealth (e.g. web platforms) and mHealth (e.g. smartphone applications)) can support traditional in‐person or telephone and videoconference delivered nutrition care, but their effectiveness as a delivery modality exclusively requires further research. |
| Funding for telehealth‐delivered dietetic services |
Government policy makers and healthcare funders should broaden remuneration benefits for telephone and videoconference‐delivered consultations provided by APDs, as these are cost‐effective and low cost for APDs to operate. Expanded telehealth access under Medicare and Private Health payers addresses health and service inequalities, improves access to effective nutrition services, and supports people with chronic conditions to optimise their diet‐related health and well‐being, regardless of their location, income or literacy level. MNT delivered via mHealth and eHealth should be considered eligible for Medicare or Private Health rebates when they are used alongside telephone or video conferencing modalities or in‐person delivery. |
Abbreviations: APD, accredited practising dietitian; MNT, medical nutrition therapy.