Dietitians’ endeavor to contribute to the nutritional health of children and youth with intellectual disability and autism

• The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences of registered dietitians (RD) who consult children and youth with intellectual disability (ID) and autism. Another aim was to investigate how knowledge and working methods were transferred to RDs working with adults with ID and autism. Twenty-six RDs completed a web-based study-specific questionnaire with multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The respondents’ comments and responses to the open-ended questions were analyzed using systematic text condensation. The analyses resulted in four categories: Reachability and accessibility of RDs, Clients do not comply with RDs’ dietary advice, RD finds individual solutions and Better collaboration for better knowledge. It was noteworthy that RDs’ undergraduate education did not prepare them for clients with ID and autism. Instead, they learned by doing and from other professionals at the clinic if they collaborate with them or were part in teams around the client. The RDs reported a lack of national routines for the transition process of nutrition support from young to adult.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Näringslära (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nutrition and Dietetics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Habilitation

transition

Sweden

nutritional advice

teamwork collaboration

adolescent

coming of age

autism spectrum disorder

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)