New Brunswick dietitians’ experiences with providing care for food insecure individuals and families: An exploratory study

Abstract

Household food insecurity remains a critical issue in Canada, with New Brunswick experiencing disproportionately high rates. While policy interventions are essential to resolve the root causes, healthcare professionals, particularly dietitians, play an increasingly important role in supporting individuals who experience this complex issue. This manuscript comprises two qualitative descriptive articles exploring the experiences of dietitians in New Brunswick working with individuals and families experiencing household food insecurity.

The articles explored dietitians’ responses to food insecurity and experiences with interprofessional collaboration. Thirteen purposively sampled dietitians completed semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings revealed food insecurity’s complexity beyond nutrition, the role of practice-oriented education, person-centred care, resource needs, and limits of community food programs. Barriers to collaboration included minimal engagement from other providers, lack of co-location, and part-time employment. Despite this, dietitians valued holistic, collaborative care. Insights highlight the need for targeted education, systemic support, and structural changes.