The aim of the study is to assess the nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to malnutrition (M-KAP), as well as their general nutrition knowledge about food groups and nutrient sources (GNKQ2), and diet and disease relationships (GNKQ4) and determine the associated factors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses, using a multi-component questionnaire that assessed the socio-demographic characteristics, health and eating habits, M-KAP and sections Methodology and Discussion of the general nutritional knowledge questionnaire (GNKQ2 and GNKQ4).

Hospitals located in North Lebanon.

Nurses working in Lebanese hospitals (n 404).

A positive association was detected between malnutrition knowledge and each of malnutrition-attitudes (P < 0·001) and malnutrition-practices (P < 0·001) and between malnutrition-practices and malnutrition-attitudes (P < 0·001). Regression analysis revealed that males had lower GNKQ2 compared with females (P = 0·035), and compared with supervisor/chief nurses, practical and head nurses had lower GNKQ2 (P < 0·001 and P = 0·046, respectively). Additionally, practical nurses had lower GNKQ4 compared with supervisor/chief nurses (P = 0·011). M-KAP levels were significantly associated with occupational title and nationality (P = 0·032 and P = 0·008, respectively). Finally, M-practices were associated with hospital district (P = 0·043), and practical and head nurses had better adequate M-practices compared with supervisor/chief nurses (P = 0·001 and P = 0·016, respectively).

A better knowledge is significantly associated with better attitudes and practices, therefore, in order to improve the nutritional status of these patients; it is of prime importance to increase knowledge among nurses.

To investigate the nutrition education provided by primary-care physicians (PCP).

An integrative review was used to examine literature on nutrition care provided by PCP from 2012 to 2018. A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Scopus using key search terms.

USA, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, UK, Lebanon, Australia and New Zealand.

Primary-care physicians.

Sixteen qualitative and quantitative studies were analysed thematically using meta-synthesis informed by the COM-B model of behaviour (capability, motivation and opportunity), to understand the influences on PCP behaviours to provide nutrition care. PCP perceive that they lack nutrition capability. While PCP motivation to provide nutrition care differs based on patient characteristics and those of their own, opportunity is influenced by medical educators, mentors and policy generated by professional and governmental organisations.

The development of PCP capability, motivation and opportunity to provide nutrition care should begin in undergraduate medical training, and continue into PCP training, to create synergy between these behaviours for PCP to become confident providing nutrition care as an integral component of disease prevention and management in contemporary medical practice.