Personal trainers are confident in their ability to provide nutrition care: a cross-sectional investigation

Abstract

Objective: To measure the self-perceived competence of Australian personal trainers in providing nutrition care. Study design: Cross-sectional online survey. Methods: A validated survey was used to measure confidence in the ability to provide nutrition care among a snowball sample of 142 Australian-based personal trainers. The survey used 5-point Likert scale statements across four nutrition related constructs: knowledge; skills; communication and counselling; and attitudes. Scores for each construct were averaged and summed to provide a self-reported nutrition competence score as a percentage. Pearson Chi-squared analyses were used to identify associations between demographic variables and competence scores, and associations between construct scores. Results: Personal trainers felt confident to provide nutrition care for all clients (mean score 76%; ‘very confident’). Greater confidence in nutrition knowledge was seen in personal trainers with greater experience (c2 ¼ 6.946, P ¼ 0.008) and education higher than a certificate IV (c2 ¼ 5.079, P ¼ 0.024). Greater confidence in nutrition knowledge was also associated with greater confidence in nutrition skills (c2 ¼ 49.67, P 0.001) and more favourable attitudes towards providing nutrition care (c2 ¼ 4.73, P ¼ 0.03). Conclusions: Personal trainers feel confident in their ability and show favourable attitudes towards providing nutrition care to clients. This workforce has the potential to support lifestyle modification for chronic disease prevention