Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
College/Unit
School of Medicine
Department/Program/Center
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive endocrine disorder in females with insulin resistance playing a key role in pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate current trends and future implications of multidisciplinary PCOS clinics with inclusion of dietitians. A two-phase, formative investigation on practitioners was conducted through an anonymous survey followed by focus groups. Survey respondents included 261 health care providers from around the world; the majority (59%) representing multidisciplinary teams. Focus group participants included four dietitians, three physicians, a health psychologist and a licensed nutritionist. Primary barriers for future multidisciplinary clinics included: money/resources, insurance reimbursement, and difference of opinions. Potential advantages included: more comprehensive and integrated care, greater convenience/efficiency, and better long-term outcomes. A majority of respondents (89%) stated that dietitians should be ‘involved’ or ‘highly involved’ in treatment. The greatest challenges for dietitians include insurance, limited disease knowledge, and lack of referrals. Most providers agreed that multidisciplinary clinics would lead to a better prognosis. A greater emphasis needs to be placed on educating professionals on the importance of nutrition counseling. Access to educated dietitians is likely the best way to ensure that PCOS patients have access to lifestyle interventions.
Digital Commons Citation
Wolf, Wendy M.; Wattick, Rachel A.; Murray, Pamela J.; Clemmer, Melanie; and Olfert, Melissa D., "Future Implications of Using Registered Dietitians in Multidisciplinary Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment" (2018). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 1294.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/1294
Source Citation
Wolf, W., Wattick, R., Murray, P., Clemmer, M., & Olfert, M. (2018). Future Implications of Using Registered Dietitians in Multidisciplinary Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment. Healthcare, 6(4), 144. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6040144
Included in
Family Medicine Commons, Human and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Pediatrics Commons
Comments
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).