Expert urges dietitians to embrace technology
Date Updated:
Dietitians should embrace new technology and not fear it, according to one Australian expert in the field.
Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian Dr Yasmine Probst, a National Health and Medical Research Council senior research fellow at the University of Wollongong’s Smart Foods Centre, said dietitians have traditionally been hesitant to take up new technology but she said it was important they remain up to date.
Dr Probst said some practices still use paper-based records for all documentation while others are partly using technology for business administration or to assist in nutrition education.
“There is the potential for dietitians to move towards completely automated or technologically-assisted practices,” she said.
“Many clients or patients are now gathering information about nutrition from the internet and this is a vital piece of technology that dietitians need to embrace and utilise to remain up to date with new research, news and trends that their clients or patients may be hearing about,” she said.
“The use of smart phones and tablet technologies now means dietitians can make use of online booking systems and email communications rather than relying on traditional means of communication.”
Dr Probst said when she first introduced the idea of using technology for dietary assessment during her PhD, she was met with “extensive negativity”.
“The feeling was that technology would replace dietitians rather than assist their practice,” she said.
“Today more dietitians are also working with and researching nutrition technologies and a growing number now believe it to be beneficial to improving practice efficiencies.”
Dr Probst urged dietitians wanting to take up new technology to first consider the credibility and suitability of applications to the Australian context.
“A prime example of this is the growing number of iPhone and Android phone applications now available and often for free,” she said.
Dr Probst said many applications encourage self-diagnosis by clients or patients, or provide contradictory information to that from qualified professionals.
Dr Probst said it was important to approach any new technologies with caution but she said by working together as a profession, dietitians would be able to share information about any useful or successful technologies.
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