Nutrition care of older adults with chronic disease: attitudes and practices of physicians and patients.
OBJECTIVE
Eighty percent of older adults have at least one chronic disease. Most conditions could be improved with nutritional intervention. This scientific study assessed physician and patient knowledge of, and behaviors about nutrition, resulting in tools to guide physicians in nutrition management of chronic diseases.


METHODS
Surveys were conducted of 300 practicing physicians and 600 older adults to identify current attitudes and practices regarding the role of nutrition in chronic disease management.


RESULTS
Ninety percent of physicians surveyed recognize the relationship between nutrition and chronic disease. Yet nutrition care occurs only sporadically in primary care settings.


CONCLUSIONS
Most physicians are aware of nutrition in managing chronic disease, but a significant percentage do not routinely include nutrition in their practice. This research led to the development of tools to assist in identifying and managing the nutritional aspects of chronic disease.
Coombs
John B
JB
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington Academic Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Barrocas
Albert
A
White
Jane V
JV
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003376:Counseling; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'