Role of Nutrition in treatment of Chronic Disease

[David]

According to findings from on national online survey of 400 primary care physicians (PCPs) conducted by Hart Research Associates, nearly all (96%) PCPs believe the nation’s health care system should be placing more emphasis on nutrition when it comes to the treatment and management of chronic disease. Among survey findings:

* Nearly three in five (59%) who believe the system should be placing much more emphasis in this area
* Fully 94% believe that nutrition plays a major role in preventing chronic disease.
* A comparable 95% believe that nutrition plays a major role in the treatment and management of chronic disease.
* On average, PCPs estimate that two in three of their adult patients who have chronic disease would benefit from nutrition services.
* Ninety-eight percent (98%) of PCPs universally agree that third-party payers should reimburse the cost of nutrition services.
* Eighty-seven percent (87%) of PCPs say that if costs were reimbursed they would spend more time counseling their patients with chronic disease about nutrition in the management of their chronic disease.
* If costs were reimbursed, 94% of PCPs say they would refer more of their patients with chronic disease for nutrition services than they currently do.
* Fully 90% of PCPs believe that it definitely (46%) or probably (44%) would be cost-effective to provide routine nutrition services to their patients who suffer from chronic disease.

Source: "The Role Of Nutrition In The Treatment And Management Of Chronic D...

[Susana]

Good article! Yes, the health care system has to be reformed... but it is a big business!