Nutrition and physical activity counseling practices of family practice residents.
BACKGROUND
Nutritional behaviors and physical activity can influence risk for the development and prognosis of cancer. This study reports findings of a literature review and a survey of nutrition and physical activity counseling practices of family practice (FP) residents.


METHODS
110 FP residents (response rate = 93.2%) from four clinics that received funding from the Texas Department of Health completed the survey. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to identify determinants of nutrition and physical activity counseling practices.


RESULTS
About a fifth of the residents reported that they usually or always asked their patients about nutrition and physical activity. In general, residents were most likely to address these issues with asymptomatic obese adult patients. Perceived effectiveness was a significant predictor of both assessment and counseling, except for nutrition counseling for asymptomatic patients. Attitude toward behavioral counseling predicted assessment, but not counseling. Use of resources predicted counseling on both topics with all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
FP residents assess and counsel about nutrition and physical activity at suboptimal rates. There is a need to convince residents of the value of such assessment and counseling and to increase their belief that patients will follow through on their recommendations.
Guo
Jong-Long
JL
Department of Health Education, National Taiwan Normal University.
Gottlieb
Nell H
NH
Smith
Michele Murphy
MM
Huang
Philip P
PP
Huang
Chiu-Mieh
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas