Using Nutrition Knowledge and Diet Quality Questionnaires as Screening Tools to Identify Female Collegiate Athletes in Need of Dietitian Referral

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate nutrition knowledge and diet quality in collegiate athletes to determine if referral to a sports registered dietitian (RD) is warranted. This cross-sectional study analyzed four sections of the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire and the Rapid Eating Assessment for Patients Questionnaire, both validated in athletic populations. The relationship between nutrition knowledge and diet quality was evaluated. Significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. One hundred and twenty athletes reported a median nutrition score of 52 (45–61), and a dietary quality score of 53 (46–58), with a weak, positive association between both (r = 0.28 (95% CI: 0.11–0.44), P < 0.01). Fifty-four percent were categorized as needing a referral to a sports RD. Diet quality scores differed between dietitian referral group with 49 (43–54) versus 58 (52–62) for the nonreferral group, respectively (P < 0.01, V = 0.71), with no difference in nutrition knowledge observed, P = 0.73. Overall, nutrition knowledge and diet quality in our sample of collegiate athletes was poor. College athletic departments with limited access to sports RD should use these questionnaires to evaluate knowledge and the need of dietitian referral separately.