Sports Dietitians' Knowledge and Perception of Nutritional Genomics
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SPORTS DIETITIANS’ KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE A thesis submitted to the Kent State University College of Education, Health, and Human Services In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Masters of Science By Christopher S. Cooper August 2015 A thesis written by Christopher Samiá Cooper B.S., Howard University, 2004 M.S., Kent State University, 2015 Approved by _________________________, Director, Master’s Thesis Committee Amy Miracle _________________________, Member, Master’s Thesis Committee Karen Lowry Gordon _________________________, Member, Master’s Thesis Committee Natalie Caine-Bish Accepted by _________________________, Director, School of Health Sciences Lynne E. Rowan _________________________, Interim Dean, College of Education, Health and Human Mark Kretovics Services ii COOPER, CHRISTOPHER S., M.S., August 2015 Nutrition SPORTS DIETITIANS’ KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE (96 pp.) Director of Thesis: Amy Miracle, Ph.D., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D. The purpose of this study was to investigate sports dietitians’ knowledge of nutritional genomics and their perceptions of nutritional genomics for enhancing athletic performance. The study was an online voluntary response sampling of Registered Dietitians (n=6219) from the membership database of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Participants completed a questionnaire composed of 3 sections designed to investigate: (1) Demographics; (2) Knowledge of genetics and diet-gene interactions; (3) Perceptions of nutritional genomics for enhancing athletic performance. For statistical analysis, participant demographic characteristics were used to differentiate between Sports Dietitians (SRDs) and Non-Sports Dietitians (NSRDs). Results of the study indicate that Total Knowledge Scores (TKS) among SRDs were significantly greater than NSRDs; however, there were only six knowledge questions to which >50% of the participants answered correctly. Increases in TKS correlated with increases in Perception scores, and SRDs responses to the six Perception items were significantly greater than responses from NSRDs. Overall, there was a weak to moderate positive correlation for SRDs and NSRDs between TKS and the six Perception items. The results indicate that more knowledge of genetics and diet-gene interactions is needed for all dietitians in order for them to feel comfortable and confident in the advancing field of nutritional genomics. Both SRDs and NSRDs agree that there is a need for continuing research in nutritional genomics. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It is with immense gratitude that I acknowledge everyone that has supported and guided me throughout this long process. It has been one heck of a roller coaster ride. I enjoyed it, and look forward to what the future has in store. First, I must give a very special thank you to my thesis adviser, Dr. Amy Miracle. I am truly thankful for your guidance, patience, encouragement, the deadlines, and especially your leniency. You knew exactly when and how to push me and when to back off. You made this process enjoyable. I am also truly thankful for Dr. Karen Lowry Gordon and Dr. Natalie Caine-Bish for helping to guide me throughout this process. I can’t just say my committee members because the two of you are so much more. Your knowledge and insight have been invaluable from day one. I thank the two of you for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to make this a reality. Also, thank you to Edward Bolden (Kent State University Research and Evaluation Bureau), Ron Dear (KSU Qualtrics account representative) and Eryn Schmidt (Qualtrics University Support). The guidance and support offered by you all was irreplaceable and probably saved me a few gray hairs. I am so Blessed to have the support of awesome family members, loved ones, and friends. My parents have always supported me in everything that I do. They are there to cheer me on and lift my spirit with encouragement when needed. I cannot thank you all enough for everything that you do, but THANK YOU! Thank you to my Grandmother, iii for always encouraging and believing in me. Thank you to my brother and niece, Will and Chelsea, for always bringing a smile to face. Thank you to all of my family, friends and anyone else that I cannot name in this short space. And a very special THANK YOU to my very best friend, Julie Abraham, MD: you are my sunshine. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. 1 Statement of the Problem................................................................................... 3 Purpose…………............................................................................................... 5 Research Hypotheses.......................................................................................... 5 Operational Definitions...................................................................................... 6 II. LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................... 8 Human Genome Project..................................................................................... 8 International HapMap Project............................................................................ 10 Genetics and Genomics Research....................................................................... 11 Nutritional Genomics....................................................................................... 11 Personalized Nutrition...................................................................................... 14 Genomics and Athletic Performance................................................................ 16 Education of Health Professionals...................................................................... 18 Nutrition Education of Physicians.................................................................... 18 Genetics and Genomics Education of Dietitians.............................................. 19 National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics.................. 21 Role of Sports Dietitians.................................................................................... 23 Link Between Sports Dietitians’ and Non-Sports Dietitians Knowledge and Perception of Nutritional Genomics for Enhancing Athletic Performance........ 25 III. METHODS........................................................................................................ 26 Study Design...................................................................................................... 26 Participants......................................................................................................... 26 Instruments......................................................................................................... 27 Procedure........................................................................................................... 28 Questionnaire Scoring....................................................................................... 28 Data Analysis..................................................................................................... 29 v IV. JOURNAL ARTICLE........................................................................................ 30 Introduction........................................................................................................ 30 Methods.............................................................................................................. 31 Study Design.................................................................................................... 31 Participants....................................................................................................... 32 Instruments....................................................................................................... 32 Procedure......................................................................................................... 33 Questionnaire Scoring..................................................................................... 34 Data Analysis................................................................................................... 34 Results................................................................................................................ 35 Discussion........................................................................................................... 51 Knowledge of Nutritional Genomics between Dietitians................................ 52 Perceptions of Nutritional Genomics between Dietitians................................ 53 Linking Knowledge and Perceptions............................................................... 54 Limitations.......................................................................................................... 54 Applications........................................................................................................ 56 Recommendation for Future Research..............................................................