Knowledge and use of evidence-based nutrition: a survey of paediatric dietitians.
OBJECTIVE
To survey paediatric dietitians' knowledge and use of evidence-based nutrition (EBN).


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey using reply-paid questionnaires.


METHODS
Paediatric dietitians in Australian teaching hospitals.


METHODS
Age, sex, appointment, clinical practice, research activities; attitudes to, training in and use of EBN; and perceived barriers to use of EBN.


METHODS
Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (SPSS).


RESULTS
Fifty-nine (86%) of 69 questionnaires were returned. Most (97%) dietitians were women working full-time (63%), mean age 37 years (+/-9 SD). Most (75%) dietitians encountered knowledge gaps less than five times per week and most (87%) questions related to therapy. The majority (95%) performed their own literature searches, less than five times per month. All had access to >or=1 electronic literature databases including Medline (n = 58, 98%), Cochrane Library (n = 44, 75%) and CINAHL (n = 35, 59%). Information sources used most often were Medline and consultation with colleagues. Reported barriers to using EBN were lack of time (n = 53, 90%) or lack of skills for critical appraisal of published articles (n = 51, 86%) or literature searching (n = 48, 81%). While 53 (90%) believed in an evidence-based approach, 43 (73%) either did not practise EBN or rated themselves as beginners.


CONCLUSIONS
Most dietitians favoured evidence-based practice, but reported lack of time, skills or rapid access to electronic databases as barriers to its practice.
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004046:Dietetics / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors