Dietitians' perspectives on nutritional needs and inclusive software solutions for individuals with physical disabilities: a qualitative analysis.
Purpose: While nutrition software is commonly used to promote healthy eating, little is known about Registered Dietitian Nutritionists' (RDNs) perspectives on using such technologies for people with physical disabilities (PWPDs). Therefore, this study aims to explore RDNs' experiences and perception...
| Publicado en: | Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 2056 - 2068 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
| Formato: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Oct2025
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=188362637&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 188362637 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 17483107 1X04 jtl: Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology issn: 17483107 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Oct2025 vid: 20 iid: 7 pid: 377 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artinfo: ui: 188362637 187523179 188362637 188362637 10.1080/17483107.2025.2548856 188362637 ppf: 2056 ppct: 12 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Dietitians' perspectives on nutritional needs and inclusive software solutions for individuals with physical disabilities: a qualitative analysis. aug: au: Zengul, Ayse G. Thirumalai, Mohanraj Bertrand, Brenda Chandler-Laney, Paula Rimmer, James H. Hill, James O. Davis, Elizabeth N. affil: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA sug: subj: Dietitian Attitudes Nutritional Requirements Psychosocial Factors Software Utilization Persons with Disabilities Dietetics Human Qualitative Studies Descriptive Research Semi-Structured Interview Counseling Communication Thematic Analysis Individualized Medicine United States Purposive Sample Audiorecording Anthropometry Communication Barriers Socioeconomic Factors Meals Food Intake Health Literacy Eating Behavior Health Food Field Notes Descriptive Statistics Data Analysis Software Funding Source ab: Purpose: While nutrition software is commonly used to promote healthy eating, little is known about Registered Dietitian Nutritionists' (RDNs) perspectives on using such technologies for people with physical disabilities (PWPDs). Therefore, this study aims to explore RDNs' experiences and perceptions about the nutritional needs of PWPDs and the use of nutrition software to enhance their practice for PWPDs. Methods: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted to elicit the professional experiences of RDNs providing dietary counseling for PWPDs. Interviews were conducted remotely via video conferencing in the U.S. between 2022 and 2023 and transcribed for thematic analysis. Two independent researchers coded the transcriptions by engaging in reflexivity. Results: Ten RDNs were interviewed, and recruitment continued until no new substantial themes were identified during the analysis. The main themes generated through analysis included (1) disability-related counseling challenges, (2) the need for personalized approaches, (3) current software limitations, (4) desired characteristics of nutrition software, and (5) the importance of enhanced communication channels. RDNs emphasized the need for disability-inclusive, accessible nutrition software with features like personalization, simplified energy calculations, and multi-method communication support to better serve PWPDs. Conclusions: These findings underscore the critical need for developing disability-inclusive nutrition software to support personalized dietary counseling for PWPDs. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The following implications highlight how this study contributes to rehabilitation practices: Addressing Unmet Needs: This study highlights the nutritional challenges faced by people with physical disabilities (PWPDs), an underserved population, and the counseling challenges encountered by healthcare professionals. By providing expert insights from dietitians, this research offers valuable guidance for healthcare providers and software developers seeking to improve care for PWPDs. Inclusive Software Development: The lack of inclusive nutrition software tailored to PWPDs is a significant gap. This study's findings on the needs of dietitians who counsel PWPDs will inform the development of more accessible, user-friendly, and inclusive software solutions, enhancing nutrition care for this population. Holistic Approach to Nutrition Care: This study is part of a broader initiative aimed at developing comprehensive, inclusive nutrition software. In conjunction with a separate study involving PWPDs, our research will integrate insights from both dietitians and PWPDs to support healthy eating habits, which are crucial for physical, psychological, and social well-being. This can help PWPDs adopt lifestyle changes that prevent metabolic health issues related to nutrition. Rehabilitation Outcomes: By integrating nutrition care with assistive technology, rehabilitation programs can better support PWPDs in achieving optimal health and functional outcomes, enhancing their overall quality of life and participation in rehabilitation activities. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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