Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Physician Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Towards Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Amy Motley Jones

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Diet is increasingly linked with overall quality of life, and a healthy diet is now being considered one of the cornerstones of preventative care. Physicians rely on Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) as most doctors lack the nutrition knowledge to properly treat their patients, especially during their residency. Little published information exists on the specific collaboration of RDNs and resident physicians. This study aimed to determine whether mentoring with an RDN increased physician nutrition knowledge, increased consults to RDNs, and whether physician attitudes improved regarding their understanding of the role of the RDN in healthcare. Knowledge or attitude alone are not …

The Effects Of Fermented Vegetable Consumption On The Composition Of The Intestinal Microflora And Levels Of Inflammatory Markers In Women: A Pilot And Feasibility Study, Amy Galena

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolic disease development. Diet is a modifiable factor that significantly influences gut microbial composition, and fermented foods are a reliable source of probiotic microorganisms that can contribute to gut homeostasis. The primary objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of fermented vegetable consumption for six weeks on markers of inflammation and gut microflora profiles in women.

Methods: Thirty-one women consumed 100 g/day of fermented vegetables (group A), non-fermented vegetables (group B), or no vegetables (group C) for six weeks. Dietary intake was assessed twice during the intervention by a …

Factors Associated With Overall Experience In Advanced-Practice Doctoral Programs, Kristi Chipman

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advanced-Practice Doctoral (APD) students are working professionals who are often returning to school after several years of practice. Multiple areas and concerns may affect overall experience as well as retention rates in doctoral programs.

This mixed-methods research study utilized both qualitative (interview) and quantitative (survey) methods. Students from three different APD programs (Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Nursing) were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview. The interview was used to help guide the development of a survey. Students from the three groups (n=65) were asked to participate in a one-time, non-incentivized, survey. The survey …

Investigation Of The Multidimensional Determinants Of Nutritionally Risky Coping Strategies And Tradeoffs In Adults, Cheryl Marsland

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Multidimensional determinants influence use of negative nutrition coping strategies and tradeoffs in households accessing food relief. The objective of this study is to examine negative nutrition coping strategies and tradeoffs at different levels of food insecurity in households accessing food relief and investigate how these behaviors relate to experience-based food insecurity dimensions and populations at risk. This secondary data analysis is from the cross-sectional Sunshine State Hunger Survey (SSHS) conducted June 2018 to August 2018. Over 600 adults were surveyed capturing households of Floridians who accessed 18 direct service charities and community groups that provide food relief across the Tampa …

A Mixed Methods Study Examining The Barriers And Facilitators To Research Utilization And Evidence-Based Practice In Adult Weight Management, Kevin B. Metcalf

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background

Obesity is a disease with many associated comorbidities and its prevalence in the U.S. continues to increase despite the majority of people with obesity attempting weight loss. Dietitians are responsible for using evidence-based practice to mitigate the effects of obesity, however, differences in practice philosophies, opinion leaders, misinformation, a sense of competence, and the complexity of nutrition research have been identified as barriers to implementing practice guidelines into daily practice. It is unclear how dietitians strike a balance between empirical evidence, anecdotal evidence, and patient-centered practice.

Aims

The primary aim of this mixed-methods study was to identify the barriers …

Validation Of An Evidence-Based Dietetic Practice Instrument And The Association Between Level Of Education And Use Of Evidence-Based Dietetic Practices Among Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Leslie Thompson Van Horn

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is associated with improved and consistent patient care and reduced healthcare costs. While dietetic didactic and practice requirements emphasize EBP, there is a lack of a valid and reliable instrument that measures both objective and subjective knowledge of EBP among registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). Content validity was conducted with 11 experts and resulted in a 38-item survey that included ten items assessing objective knowledge of EBP. Items were deemed clear and appropriate for the survey goals and intended audience based on a face validity review among 16 RDNs with varying backgrounds. A pilot evaluation (n = …

Impacts Of Meals On Wings (Mow) Program On Volunteers' Perceptions And Motives, Juan Diego Salcedo

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity is a problem in the subpopulation of older adults and the elderly. The following study aimed to explore the perceptions and motives such as career benefits, impacts experienced through volunteering, skills in dietetics, comfort level with seniors, social responsibility, peer modeling, and empathy of student volunteers participating in a food recovery-meal delivery program known as Meals on Wings (MOW) on a college campus in the Southeast.

METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted during July 2021. Semi-structured interviews were administered over the video conference program Zoom to 10 (n=10) student volunteers who volunteered with MOW for at least one …

The Nutrition Care Process In Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy, Casey R. Colin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine documentation quality and outcomes in a sample (n = 564 patient cases) of Diabetes Registry data from ANDHII, and to determine the validity and reliability of a revised NCP quality audit tool. RDNs have struggled to objectively demonstrate the value of MNT, which has limited MNT reimbursement and RDN recognition amongst allied healthcare providers. Development of a standardized process (the NCP), standardized language (the NCPT), and ANDHII have provided a means through which RDNs can improve MNT documentation and capture outcomes data, but gaps in adequate utilization exist. The most common …

An Examination Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Health Threat, Stress, And Social Isolation On Lifestyle Habits As Analyzed Through The Protection Motivation Theory, Luciana Adib Soares

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 emerged in China in 2019 and quickly spread to other countries, leading to mandated lockdowns and social isolation. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of the COVID-19-generated stress, health threat, and social isolation on dietary, physical activity, and self-care habits of adults in Florida, utilizing the PMT as a framework. Participants (n = 478) completed online surveys about demographics, perceived stress, and changes in lifestyle habits. Significant positive changes were reported in cooking at home (p < .001) frequency, sweets (p < .001), and breakfast (p = .009) consumption, outdoors physical activity (p = .005), self-care (p < .001), relaxation (p < .001), and rest (p < .001) habits. Significant negative changes were reported in fast food (p = .004) and snack (p < .001) consumption. A significant relationship existed between self-reported stress, perceived threat, (r = .33, p < .001), and perceived efficacy, (r = -.15, p = .002). Perceived threat was the most important predictor of changes …