RESUMO
A clinical nutritionist (CN) is a university-educated professional trained to perform preventive and recovery functions in the health of patients. The actions of these professionals, both worldwide and in Latin America, may face barriers and opportunities that require careful identification and examination. The main objective of this study is to identify the most important barriers and opportunities for the clinical nutritionist in 13 Latin American countries. A qualitative study was carried out; the initial phase involved conducting in-depth individual interviews with 89 informants, experienced CNs from 13 Latin American countries. After calculating the mean and standard deviation, we ranked the top 10 most frequently reported barriers by assigning a score ranging from 1 to 10. Additionally, 3 opportunities were identified with a lower score from 1 to 3. Means and standard deviation were calculated to sort the responses. Results: the most important barrier was the absence of public policies that regulate and/or monitor compliance with the staffing of CNs according to the number of hospital beds, while the most important opportunity was the advances in technology such as software, body analysis equipment and other tools used in Nutritional Care. The identified barriers can interfere with the professional performance of CNs and, moreover, make it difficult to monitor the good nutritional status of patients. It is recommended to consider the barriers identified in this study, as well as the opportunities, with a view to improving the quality of hospital services with an adequate supply of nutritionists.
Assuntos
Política de Saúde , Ciências da Nutrição , Nutricionistas , Humanos , América Latina , Nutricionistas/normas , Política Pública , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Mão de Obra em Saúde/normas , Ciências da Nutrição/normas , Biotecnologia/tendênciasRESUMO
Calcium (Ca) plays a crucial role in the regulation of metabolic processes, especially neuromuscular function and bone health. In Chile, calcium intake in women of childbearing age does not meet the dietary requirement. Objective: To determine whether standard and virtual nutritional counseling increases the dietary calcium intake in Chilean women of childbearing age. Subjects and Methods: Dietary calcium intake in 20 women (mean age 39 ± 5 years) before and after a nutritional education intervention was compared. Nutritional counseling was provided to promote daily consumption of calcium-rich foods. Subsequently, a virtual space was provided to enhance standard counseling. On days 1, 30 and 62 a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was completed by the women. Calcium intake significantly increased post intervention (ANOVA F = 4.43, P= 0.02). Dietary calcium intake was 308 ± 116mg/d at baseline, 354 ± 138mg/d at 30 days, and 412 ± 188mg/d after 62 days. Post intervention, 95% of the participants did not meet the daily intake requirement for calcium; the average percent of adequate intake of calcium was 68 ± 19%. Conclusion: Nutritional counseling increased dietary calcium intake in women of reproductive age, but the increase was not enough to meet the daily calcium requirements.
El calcio juega un rol crucial en la regulación de procesos metabólicos, especialmente en la función neuromuscular y en la salud ósea. Sin embargo, la ingesta dietaria de calcio en mujeres en edad fértil de Chile no cubre los requerimientos. Objetivo: determinar sí la consejería nutricional presencial y virtual incrementa la ingesta dietaria de calcio en mujeres chilenas de edad fértil. Sujetos y métodos: la ingesta dietaria de calcio en 20 mujeres (edad media de 39 ± 5 años) antes y después de una intervención de educación alimentaria y nutricional fue comparada. La consejería nutricional fue impartida para promover el consumo diario de alimentos ricos en calcio. Además, se habilitó un espacio virtual para reforzar la consejería nutricional. En el día 1, 30 y 62 se aplicaron cuestionarios de frecuencia de consumo semi-cuantitativos. La ingesta dietaria de calcio incrementó significativamente (ANOVA F = 4.43, P= 0.02) después de la intervención. La ingesta dietaria de calcio fue 308 ± 116mg/d al día 1, 354 ± 138mg/d al día 30, e incrementó a 412 ± 188mg/d después de 62 días. Al final de la intervención, el 95% de las participantes no cubrieron sus requerimientos diarios de calcio; la media del porcentaje de adecuación para la ingesta de calcio fue 68 ± 19%. La consejería nutricional podría incrementar la ingesta dietaria de calcio en mujeres de edad media en Chile. Sin embargo, el aumento no es suficiente para cubrir los requerimientos de calcio.
