title: Role of the nutrition professional in high-risk obstetrics inpatient teams.
abstract: Beyond the management of gestational diabetes and weight control, limited literature exists on nutritional management in high-risk pregnancies. This study is a starting point for understanding the role of the registered dietitian (RD) in high-risk obstetrics (HRO) inpatient teams. Demographic information was gathered on Ontario HRO inpatient units and patient characteristics, and the RD's role in this setting was explored. Representatives from all six HRO units in Ontario completed a questionnaire. Five of the HRO units had an RD on the team. The RDs stated that their primary role in the unit involved providing nutrition education and support, screening patients for nutritional risk, and writing vitamin and mineral orders. This was the first study in which RDs' role in HRO inpatient units was examined. Existing literature supports the role of good nutrition in preventing and treating the conditions seen in HRO units; however, RDs' specific role remains unclear. Future studies are needed to analyze the effect of nutrition on these HRO conditions, and to support the development of best practice guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gurau
authors.forename: Aleris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cronk
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pelliccia
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandenbussche
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D044623:Nutrition Therapy; D064686:Nutritionists; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education; D009864:Ontario; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins