| Predictors of nutrition counseling behaviors and attitudes in US medical students. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 16960182 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
BACKGROUND: Nutrition counseling by physicians can improve patients' dietary behaviors and is affected by physicians' nutrition practices and attitudes, such as the perceived relevance of nutrition counseling. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to provide data on medical students' perceived relevance of nutrition counseling, reported frequency of nutrition counseling, and frequency of fruit and vegetable intakes. DESIGN: Students (n = 2316) at 16 US medical schools were surveyed and tracked at freshmen orientation, at the time of orientation to wards, and in their senior year. RESULTS: Freshmen students were more likely (72%) to find nutrition counseling highly relevant than were students at the time of ward orientation (61%) or during their senior year (46%; P for trend = 0.0003). Those intending to subspecialize had lower and declining perceptions of counseling relevance (P for trend = 0.0009), whereas the perceived relevance of counseling by primary care specialists remained high (P for trend = 0.5). Students were significantly more likely to find nutrition counseling highly relevant if they were female, consumed more fruit and vegetables, believed in primary prevention, had personal physicians who encouraged disease prevention, or intended to specialize in primary care. Only 19% of students believed that they had been extensively trained in nutrition counseling, and 17% of seniors reported that they frequently counseled their patients about nutrition. Students who consumed more fruit and vegetables, believed that they would be more credible if they ate a healthy diet, were not Asian or white, or intended to specialize in primary care counseled patients about nutrition more frequently. Medical students consumed an average of 3.0 fruit and vegetable servings/d, which declined over time. CONCLUSIONS: The perceived relevance of nutrition counseling by US medical students declined throughout medical school, and students infrequently counseled their patients about nutrition. Interventions may be warranted to improve the professional nutritional practices of medical students. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Elsa H Spencer; Erica Frank; Lisa K Elon; Vicki S Hertzberg; Mary K Serdula; Deborah A Galuska |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: The American journal of clinical nutrition Volume: 84 ISSN: 0002-9165 ISO Abbreviation: Am. J. Clin. Nutr. Publication Date: 2006 Sep |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2006-09-08 Completed Date: 2006-10-10 Revised Date: 2009-11-19 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0376027 Medline TA: Am J Clin Nutr Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 655-62 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
|
School of Medicine and the School of Public Health, Biostatistics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Adolescent Adult Attitude of Health Personnel* Attitude to Health Body Mass Index Clinical Competence Counseling / methods* Female Fruit* Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Humans Male Middle Aged Nutritional Sciences / education* Preventive Medicine Questionnaires Students, Medical / psychology* Vegetables* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Viva la Familia Study: genetic and environmental contributions to childhood obesity and its comorbid...
Next Document: Does activity engagement protect against cognitive decline in old age? Methodological and analytical...