Knowledge and attitudes of lower Michigan primary care physicians towards dietary interventions: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: Dietary interventions are first-line therapies for the prevention and management of many chronic diseases, yet primary care physicians prescribe these interventions infrequently. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates primary care physicians’ current knowledge and opinions regarding the delivery of dietary interventions. This work aims to identify modifiable barriers to prescribing dietary interventions to prevent and treat diet-related diseases. METHODS: We designed and fielded an anonymous, cross-sectional survey of faculty and resident physicians across the Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Pediatrics departments in three academic and community hospitals in lower Michigan. Data were collected between January 15 and April 15, 2019. Self-rated knowledge and attitudes were measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Objective scores were calculated for each question as percentage answered correctly among all respondents. Objective knowledge scores were compared based on participants’ years in practice. RESULTS: Response rate was 23% (356 responses). The sample was 62.3% female and 75.3% non-Hispanic White, and 56.7% were age 40 or younger. Average objective knowledge score was 70.3% (±17.2) correct. Mean self-rated knowledge score was 2.51 (±0.96) on a scale of 1(Poor) − 5(Excellent). Overall agreement with a statement of importance of dietary interventions was 3.99 (±0.40) on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). A majority (91.7%) of respondents indicated they would like more opportunities to learn about the evidence supporting dietary interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians desire to incorporate dietary interventions into their practice. Findings encourage the development of educational strategies to support dietary intervention use among primary care physicians.