The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis

Background: People with MS often make dietary changes after diagnosis with the aim of slowing disease progression. Although people with MS commonly use the internet for information on diet and MS, neurologists are their preferred source of information. However, little is known about what dietary adv...

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Main Authors: Russell, Rebecca, Black, Lucinda, Begley, Andrea
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: ELSEVIER SCI LTD 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90051
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author Russell, Rebecca
Black, Lucinda
Begley, Andrea
author_facet Russell, Rebecca
Black, Lucinda
Begley, Andrea
author_sort Russell, Rebecca
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: People with MS often make dietary changes after diagnosis with the aim of slowing disease progression. Although people with MS commonly use the internet for information on diet and MS, neurologists are their preferred source of information. However, little is known about what dietary advice is provided by neurologists. Objectives: To explore the perceptions of neurologists about diet and MS, and to identify the type of dietary advice they provide to their patients with MS. Methods: In this exploratory qualitative study, 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with neurologists in Western Australia. Audio files were transcribed verbatim, and transcripts were thematically analysed using a general inductive approach. Results: Four themes emerged: 1) juggling the evidence on the role of diet in MS; 2) acknowledging the risks and benefits of specific diets; 3) distancing from the diet ‘gurus’; and 4) the unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice. Conclusion: Neurologists could meet their patients’ expectations by providing evidence-based dietary advice, such as promoting the benefits of diets that adhere to national dietary guidelines, and being prepared to explain potential risks of restrictive diets. Information about healthy eating needs to be targeted to people with MS.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-900512023-10-05T00:02:42Z The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis Russell, Rebecca Black, Lucinda Begley, Andrea Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Clinical Neurology Neurosciences & Neurology Diet Dietary advice Dietary guidelines Multiple sclerosis Nutrition Neurologists QUALITATIVE RESEARCH NUTRITION Background: People with MS often make dietary changes after diagnosis with the aim of slowing disease progression. Although people with MS commonly use the internet for information on diet and MS, neurologists are their preferred source of information. However, little is known about what dietary advice is provided by neurologists. Objectives: To explore the perceptions of neurologists about diet and MS, and to identify the type of dietary advice they provide to their patients with MS. Methods: In this exploratory qualitative study, 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with neurologists in Western Australia. Audio files were transcribed verbatim, and transcripts were thematically analysed using a general inductive approach. Results: Four themes emerged: 1) juggling the evidence on the role of diet in MS; 2) acknowledging the risks and benefits of specific diets; 3) distancing from the diet ‘gurus’; and 4) the unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice. Conclusion: Neurologists could meet their patients’ expectations by providing evidence-based dietary advice, such as promoting the benefits of diets that adhere to national dietary guidelines, and being prepared to explain potential risks of restrictive diets. Information about healthy eating needs to be targeted to people with MS. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90051 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102304 English http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ELSEVIER SCI LTD fulltext
spellingShingle Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Clinical Neurology
Neurosciences & Neurology
Diet
Dietary advice
Dietary guidelines
Multiple sclerosis
Nutrition
Neurologists
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
NUTRITION
Russell, Rebecca
Black, Lucinda
Begley, Andrea
The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis
title The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis
title_full The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis
title_fullStr The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis
title_short The unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis
title_sort unresolved role of the neurologist in providing dietary advice to people with multiple sclerosis
topic Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Clinical Neurology
Neurosciences & Neurology
Diet
Dietary advice
Dietary guidelines
Multiple sclerosis
Nutrition
Neurologists
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
NUTRITION
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90051