Dietitians' views on the advantages and limitations of online dietary counselling for adults in Malaysia: a qualitative study.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore clinical dietitians' views on the advantages and limitations of online dietary counselling for adults, as their views are essential for the successful adoption and implementation of teleconsultation methods in chronic disease management. A qualitative study using 16 semi-structured in-depth interviews and thematic analysis. Public healthcare institutions across five regions of Malaysia, including the West, North, East, South Peninsular and East Malaysia. 16 clinical dietitians were purposively selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirteen were from government hospitals and three from government clinics. All participants were registered and actively involved in providing dietary counselling services. The main advantages of online dietary counselling include improved accessibility to dietetic services, convenience for patients and cost-effectiveness. However, the study also identified several limitations, such as technological challenges, internet connectivity issues and staff shortages. Despite these obstacles, most dietitians offered valuable recommendations for adopting online dietary counselling to enhance its implementation. Based on their insights, they suggested a hybrid model that combines both online and in-person counselling as a more effective approach for managing diseases among adults in the future. Most dietitians showed strong support for online dietary counselling, acknowledging its potential to improve accessibility and convenience. However, they also recognised practical challenges and offered valuable recommendations to overcome these barriers.