Page 32 - Sphere No.29 (Jun 2011)

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Patrons of the service come mainly from one or more of three
groups: pregnant women, people who are overweight or underweight
and those with chronic medical conditions including the three “highs”
(high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol). Ms Liu
believes these three groups cover most of Hong Kong’s population.
For example, an estimated one in 10 Hong Kong people are diabetic.
“Many are in need of dietary advice but cannot readily find it
from a doctor or a hospital and don’t know where else to seek it,” said
Ms Liu. This is a pity, she added, as many conditions, such as high
blood pressure, can be better managed by having the right diet as
well as the right medication. Dietitians are also able to address
common misperceptions, such as the myth that diabetics should
never eat rice or sweet food.
Down-to-earth approach
In the privacy of a proper consulting room, a first session with a
Watsons’ dietitian begins with a thorough assessment of the
client’s health needs and objectives, along with an analysis of his or
her medical history, individual lifestyle and social context. “We
understand that overloading our clients with scientific advice will
only confuse them,” said Ms Liu. “So we aim to make our advice as
personal, practical and useful as possible.”
A major “plus” is the time Watsons’ dietitians spend with each
client. The all-important first consultation lasts between 40 to 45
minutes, which is about double the time dietitians in public hospitals
are usually able to spend with patients, according to Ms Liu. “This
extra time allows us to understand our patients more thoroughly and
discuss their unique needs in detail.”
Typically, clients’ needs are diverse. “For example, we have clients
who want to establish healthier eating patterns, but who also eat
out for every meal,” Ms Liu noted. “We have developed a great way
of helping them decide not only what not to eat when they are in a
restaurant, but also what to choose, instead.” All the dietitians keep
sample menus in their consultation rooms to help clients make
healthier restaurant choices based on real options within their
preferred cuisines.
Service synergies
A fundamental goal of the new service is to cooperate closely
with other healthcare professionals, including Watsons pharmacists.
“Although our dietitian service is not about selling products to
clients, being located in the pharmacy setting allows for a truly
holistic approach to helping people become healthier by individually
managing both their diets and medications,” explained Chief
Pharmacist Margaret Lau. “There is a great synergy between the
two services.”
Watsons has also informed neighbourhood physicians of the
presence of registered dietitians in nearby stores. If the dieticians
receive a referral letter from one of these doctors, they will send that
physician a report after they have seen his or her patient and work
closely with the doctor on follow-up action.
“This is another great advantage of our service,” said Ms Liu.
“Monitoring and follow-up appointments are readily available at
Watsons, whereas usually you must have a doctor’s referral to see