Role of the Dietitian in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Multidisciplinary Team.

In recent years, nutrition and dietetics have evolved from playing a supporting role in inflammatory bowel disease care to becoming an integral part of the treatment approach. Nutrition and dietary treatments address malnutrition, which is known to be highly prevalent in inflammatory bowel disease patients, reduce active inflammation, provide symptom relief, and enhance quality of life. Patients believe that nutrition-based strategies are an important part of their disease management but generally have difficulty accessing specialist nutrition advice.

Current state of dietetic services for inflammatory bowel disease patients in New Zealand: an observational study.

Aim: Nutritional therapies for inflammatory bowel disease are increasingly recommended. This study aimed to gain insight from patients, dietitians and gastroenterologists into inflammatory bowel disease dietetic care in New Zealand.

Methods: Mixed-methods surveys were developed and then distributed online to patients with inflammatory bowel disease and dietitians and gastroenterologists that care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.