Use of oral nutritional supplements in Greece: Examining the effect of the level of knowledge of health care professionals on their use in clinical practice.
Nikolakopoulou K, Chourdakis M, et al. • Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) • 2026
The results support the need to improve clinical nutrition education, especially for younger HCPs, those with limited experience, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, as knowledge deficits regarding oral nutritional supplements were associated with younger age, role as physician, nurse, or pharmacist, limited working experience, and lack of interest/experience in clinical nutrition.
Key Findings
Results
The mean number of correct responses on the use of ONS among Greek HCPs was 11.4 out of 22 questions.
Mean correct responses: 11.4 ± 3.0
The survey used a validated questionnaire consisting of 33 questions (11 on demographic characteristics and 22 on the use of ONS)
Total of 159 HCPs were analyzed
Higher level of knowledge was observed for questions about the principles of ONS administration in relation to their use in specific conditions
Results
The lowest success rates in ONS knowledge were recorded for questions relating to pressure ulcers, hip fracture surgery, chronic kidney disease, and older adult patients.
Pressure ulcers had the lowest success rate at 8.2%
Hip fracture surgery success rate was 13.2%
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) success rate was 15.1%
Older adult patients success rate was 24.5%
Results
Knowledge deficits regarding ONS were associated with younger age, professional role, limited working experience, and lack of interest or experience in clinical nutrition.
Statistically significant associations were found at p < .05
Knowledge deficit was associated with younger age
Knowledge deficit was associated with role as physician, nurse, or pharmacist (as opposed to dietitian/nutritionist)
Knowledge deficit was associated with limited working experience and lack of interest/experience in clinical nutrition
Methods
The study sample consisted predominantly of dietitians/nutritionists and physicians, with a majority of female respondents.
Total analyzed sample: 159 HCPs
Professional breakdown: 49.1% dietitians/nutritionists, 32.7% physicians, 15.7% nurses, and 2.5% pharmacists
66.0% of respondents were women
Mean age of respondents was 40.5 ± 9.5 years
HCPs included were working in Greece with a recognized bachelor's degree and a professional license
Background
Undergraduate curriculum in medical nutrition therapy is considered inadequate, resulting in insufficient knowledge of medical nutrition therapy methodology among health care professionals.
The inadequacy of undergraduate nutrition education is identified as a key background issue motivating the study
Nutrition therapy is noted to improve patients' health outcomes and reduce health care costs
The study used an online survey with a validated questionnaire to evaluate HCP knowledge
Nikolakopoulou K, Chourdakis M, Androutsos O, Bahat G, Pinar E, Erdogan T, et al.. (2026). Use of oral nutritional supplements in Greece: Examining the effect of the level of knowledge of health care professionals on their use in clinical practice.. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2025.113056