The role of the general practitioner and the dietitian in patient nutrition management.

There is mounting evidence that nutrition plays an important role in the aetiology and management of many diseases affecting Australians. Nutrition counseling provides a strategy for not only reducing patient suffering, but also for reducing the health care costs associated with these illnesses. At the forefront of providing nutrition counseling to Australians are General Practitioners (GPs) and Dietitians. Australian data shows that GPs encounter many patients with the chronic diseases that have nutrition in their aetiology and management. Although this presents opportunities to provide nutrition counseling, overseas literature suggests that often nutrition counseling opportunities are not taken up. At present, there is little evidence to support whether this problem exists in Australia, or the magnitude of the problem. Whilst evidence suggests there are barriers for GPs in providing nutrition counseling, there is conflicting evidence on how these influence the GP's decision to provide such counseling. Overseas studies have also identified barriers for GPs to refer to dietitians to provide nutrition counseling, however there is no evidence to identify whether these barriers exist in Australia. Whilst various strategies have been implemented to aid in the provision of effective nutrition management to the Australian public, there is little evidence on the efficacy of these. Research is needed in the above areas if effective patient nutrition management is to be implemented in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]