Perspectives of Food as Medicine Concept: Report of an Online Convenience Sample Survey of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists

Abstract

Background: In 2019, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) Foundation launched a project to leverage registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) leading "food as medicine" (FAM) initiatives within food retail settings. Subsequently, a conceptual definition of FAM was created.

Objective: This survey aimed to gauge RDNs' familiarity with FAM, assess RDNs' perceptions of the Academy's FAM definition, and prioritize program models for food retail implementation.

Design: Development and testing of this cross-sectional survey involved expert content validation, cognitive interviews, and field testing.

Participants: One thousand five hundred fifty-two RDN Academy members completed the online survey.

Main outcome measures: Familiarity and perception of FAM was evaluated by asking participants about FAM focus areas, Academy definition, concept integration, and FAM program models within food retail settings.

Statistical analyses performed: Quantitative results were analyzed descriptively, using frequencies and proportions; content analysis was used on qualitative results to analyze open-ended responses.

Results: Most respondents had heard the term FAM (94%) and were familiar with the concept (95%). Before learning the Academy's FAM definition, RDN views of the concept aligned with the definition's strategic focus areas (health and well-being, disease management and treatment, nutrition security, food safety). Overall, 77% of RDNs surveyed had a positive perception of the Academy's FAM definition. Sixty-nine percent also found food retail settings favorable for integrating FAM programming. Because of the limited number of RDNs identifying food retail as their primary practice setting (n = 12), data on prioritizing program models in these settings were not analyzed.

Conclusions: RDNs in all practice settings can incorporate strategic focus areas outlined in the Academy's FAM definition. Further research is needed, particularly around use of the term by the RDN profession. A follow-up survey targeting a larger sample size of RDNs who practice in food retail settings is also necessary to further prioritize FAM program models in these settings.