Study Title
Integrating a Diet Quality Screener into a Cardiology Practice: Assessment of Nutrition Counseling, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, and Patient/Provider Satisfaction.
Principal Investigator
Jeannette Beasley, Paloma Sardina, Emily Johnston, Lisa Ganguzza, Jane Padikkala, Ashley Bagheri, Simon Jones, Eugenia Gianos.
Affiliation
NYU Langone Health, New York City, NY, USA.
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Start Date
December 2017.
End Date
August 2018.
Study Objective
To assess the impact of integrating a diet quality screener into a cardiology practice on nutrition counseling, cardiometabolic risk factors, and patient/provider satisfaction.
Short Abstract
This study evaluated the feasibility of incorporating a diet quality screener within the electronic health record (EHR) of a cardiology practice. While diet quality screening was completed by 865 patients, the screener did not increase dietitian referrals significantly, and the improvement in screener scores was modest among patients completing multiple screeners. Future work should develop best practices for physicians in using the diet quality screener.
Study Design
The study utilized a prospective cohort design, focusing on patients completing a diet quality screener, with pre- and post-screening assessments.
Population
865 adult patients from NYU's Prevention Center, predominantly presenting with cardiometabolic risk factors.
Sample Size
865 patients participated, with 204 completing follow-up screeners.
Inclusion Criteria
Patients attending cardiology appointments at the NYU Prevention Center.
Exclusion Criteria
None specified.
Intervention/Exposure
The diet quality screener was integrated into the EHR, and patients were asked to complete it before their cardiology visits. Physicians had access to the results and could refer patients to dietitians.
Outcome Measures
- Number of dietitian referrals.
- Changes in cardiometabolic risk factors such as BMI, blood pressure, HbA1c, and lipid profiles.
- Patient and provider satisfaction with the diet quality screener.
Funding Source
Funded by the Center for Healthcare Innovation and Delivery Sciences at NYU Langone Health.
Collaborating Institutions
NYU Langone Health, Pennsylvania State University.
Ethics Approval
This quality improvement project was deemed "non-human subject research" by the NYU Institutional Review Board.
Publication Status
Published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, March 2020.
Keywords
Diet quality screener, cardiometabolic risk, nutrition counseling, electronic health record, dietitian referrals.
Data Collection Methods
Data were collected from the EHR, including diet quality scores and cardiometabolic risk factors at baseline and follow-up visits.
Primary Data Availability
Data are available upon reasonable request.
Contact Information
Dr. Jeannette Beasley,