Family physicians' views of the preventive services task force recommendations regarding nutritional counseling
K. S. Soltesz, J. H. Price, L. W. Johnson and S. K. Tellijohann
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Bowling Green (Ohio) State University, Toledo, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of agreement between family physicians
and the nutritional counseling recommendations of the US Preventive
Services Task Force. DESIGN: A survey was developed, tested, and mailed to
a random nationwide sample of 500 family physicians. PARTICIPANTS: Active
members of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Kansas City, Mo.
Forty-nine percent of the physicians responded to the survey. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURE: The level of agreement between family physicians and the
nutritional counseling recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task
Force was determined through responses from 1 to 7 on a Likert scale, with
a higher number indicating a greater level of agreement. RESULTS: A
comparison of age, gender, and type of practice found that the sample did
not significantly differ from the characteristics of the membership of the
American Academy of Family Physicians. Seventy-five percent of the
physicians agreed that clinicians should provide periodic counseling
regarding the dietary intake of fat and cholesterol. Fifty percent or more
of the physicians agreed with the other five recommendations, including
providing periodic counseling about the dietary energy intake, the dietary
intake of sodium, and exercise and referring patients to a registered
dietitian. Gender and type of practice had a significant effect on the
level of agreement with the recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, this
sample of family physicians agreed with the US Preventive Services Task
Force nutritional counseling recommendations. Family physicians seemed to
be supportive of nutritional counseling during the periodic health
examination, but further research is required to identify barriers to
implementation.
