From Beliefs to Action: Dietitians' Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability and a Pathway to Planetary Health Framework for Food System Change.

UNLABELLED: The Pathway to Planetary Health (PPH) is a theoretical framework that supports dietitians to undertake pro-environmental change within the food system.

AIM: To explore the practical application and impact of the PPH.

METHODS

The PPH was workshopped with dietitians and dietetic students (n = 46) using a mixed-methods case study approach. Data collection was embedded in workshop delivery via a (i) pre-post survey using both Likert scale and free-text responses, and (ii) qualitative explorations of participants' perspectives via interactive workshop activities. Analysis of quantitative data involved an independent samples t-test for normally distributed data and a Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed data. Qualitative data were analysed thematically for survey responses and content analysis for workshop activity responses.

RESULTS

Participants increased their confidence to undertake pro-environmental change in their personal lives 4.1 ± 0.7 to 4.5 ± 0.8/5, and professional lives 3.6 ± 1.1 to 4.3 ± 0.9/5 (p < 0.05). Three themes were identified as barriers and enablers to pro-environmental action, including 'personal', 'social and professional' factors, as well as 'contextual and environmental' influences.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of the PPH framework was supported by workshop participants who significantly increased their confidence to undertake pro-environmental food system change.