Counseling Strategies To Improve Nutrition Care For Rural Appalachian Patients

Culturally sensitive strategies are critical to help the rural Appalachian population prevent and manage chronic diseases. A multiple-methods approach examined specific nutrition strategies used by practitioners and community members (n = 61). Strategy subthemes were categorized into 4 themes from the previously established Rural Nutrition Care Model (1) access and resources (budgeting, planning, resources), (2) sociocultural influences (whole-family approach, simple messages, building rapport, avoiding assumptions), (3) traditional foods (gardening, cooking), and (4) health behaviors (small changes, prevention). Practitioners and patients had differing perspectives on the nutrition context of the rural population (P < .05), which provides a further rationale for the importance of culturally sensitive nutrition counseling strategies.