Smartphone Applications (Apps) for Nutrition Education: A Qualitative Analysis of Outpatient Dietitian Perspectives

Abstract

Objective: To explore how outpatient dietitians select and use applications (apps) to support nutrition education.

Methods: Qualitative analysis of 20 dietitians who participated in semistructured interviews investigating their app use and recommendation processes. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Four themes described how dietitians perceive apps for nutrition education: (1) nutrition education goals focus on long-term lifestyle behavior change while protecting patients' relationship with food, (2) attitudes toward tracking apps influence app selection, (3) dietitians differentiate among patients who will benefit from tracking vs information apps, and (4) barriers to optimal app use result in adaptations by dietitians.

Conclusions and implications: Barriers exist to optimal app use for nutrition education. However, accessible app design, app selection guides, and research expounding the effects of apps and their use by dietitians may improve how practitioners incorporate apps into nutrition education.

Keywords: mHealth; nutrition education; qualitative research; registered dietitians.