Dietetic students' drivers and barriers to healthy eating while studying to be a healthcare professional (a pilot study)
Abstract
For Dietetics students, starting university means developing the knowledge and skills required to be a healthcare practitioner. This pilot study aimed to explore the perceptions and views of the students on their drivers and barriers of healthy eating while studying Dietetics at university. A qualitative study was undertaken with a purposive sample of six final year Dietetic students at a UK university. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were used to elicit students' experiences and perceptions of barriers to healthy eating. Interview data were analysed thematically. Five themes emerged from the interview data including studying Dietetics, placement, influence of significant others, food security, and social and cultural aspects of the university life, with several sub-themes, and perspectives about the future beyond the university life. The findings suggest a potential need for Dietetics course providers to consider the range of barriers to healthy eating that students may encounter whilst studying and how these may undermine their ability to develop healthy eating practices and effective professional skills. Further research is required that explores the extent of barriers to healthy eating and examine whether these impinge upon effective practice.Citation
Trahearn M, Merryweather D, Amirabdollahian F. (2021) Dietetic Students’ Drivers and Barriers to Healthy Eating While Studying to Be a Healthcare Professional (a Pilot Study). Healthcare, 9(5):579. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9050579Publisher
MDPIJournal
HealthcarePubMed ID
34068242 (pubmed)Additional Links
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/5/579Type
Journal articleLanguage
enDescription
© 2021 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9050579ISSN
2227-9032EISSN
2227-9032ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3390/healthcare9050579
Scopus Count
Collections
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Licence for published version: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Related articles
- Dietetic Students' Drivers and Barriers to Healthy Eating While Studying to Be a Healthcare Professional (a Pilot Study).
- Authors: Trahearn M, Merryweather D, Amirabdollahian F
- Issue date: 2021 May 13
- Exploring perceived training and professional development needs of Australian dietetic students and practising dietitians in the area of eating disorders: a focus group study.
- Authors: Parker EK, Ashley MA, Moretti C, Harris DM, Stefoska-Needham A
- Issue date: 2022 Mar 18
- 'Oh God, I Have to Eat Something, But Where Can I Get Something Quickly?'-A Qualitative Interview Study on Barriers to Healthy Eating among University Students in Germany.
- Authors: Hilger-Kolb J, Diehl K
- Issue date: 2019 Oct 14
- Patients' perceptions and experiences of patient-centred care in dietetic consultations.
- Authors: Sladdin I, Chaboyer W, Ball L
- Issue date: 2018 Apr