TABLE 2.

Evidence‐based recommendations for telehealth‐delivered consultations

Practice area	Recommendation
Weight management	Telephone counselling is effective for management of overweight and obesity in primary care.
Chronic disease management	Telephone and videoconference nutrition consultations improves diet, physical activity levels and reduces body weight in people with chronic conditions. Telephone and videoconference consultations are just as effective as in‐person delivered MNT.
Malnutrition	Telephone counselling is effective for the prevention and management of malnutrition in the community.
Digital health	Digital health solutions (including eHealth (e.g. web platforms) and mHealth (e.g. smartphone applications)) can support traditional in‐person or telephone and videoconference delivered nutrition care, but their effectiveness as a delivery modality exclusively requires further research.
Funding for telehealth‐delivered dietetic services	Government policy makers and healthcare funders should broaden remuneration benefits for telephone and videoconference‐delivered consultations provided by APDs, as these are cost‐effective and low cost for APDs to operate. Expanded telehealth access under Medicare and Private Health payers addresses health and service inequalities, improves access to effective nutrition services, and supports people with chronic conditions to optimise their diet‐related health and well‐being, regardless of their location, income or literacy level. MNT delivered via mHealth and eHealth should be considered eligible for Medicare or Private Health rebates when they are used alongside telephone or video conferencing modalities or in‐person delivery.

Abbreviations: APD, accredited practising dietitian; MNT, medical nutrition therapy.