Diet-related knowledge, beliefs and actions of health professionals compared with the general population: an investigation in a community Trust

Background Dietary change is advocated for the prevention and treatment of a number of major diseases, and the implicit and explicit assumption is that health professionals have a major role in promoting diet change. Previous studies of doctors and nurses have shown their knowledge to be inadequate. Other health professionals have not been investigated. Methods Parts of a questionnaire used in a national study of the general public were administered to groups of health professionals from a variety of disciplines working in a community Trust. The results were compared with those from the study of the general public, for which the questionnaire had been devised. Results 358 questionnaires were completed. There was little difference between the knowledge, beliefs and actions of health professionals and the general public. Conclusion If health professionals are to continue to be expected to promote healthy eating messages there will need to be a more systematic approach to their training about nutrition.