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Adherence Of Spanish Primary Physicians And Clinical Practise To The Mediterranean Diet
Ares Sentenach-Carbo1, Carme Batlle1, Marcella Franquesa1,2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Barcelona, Spain.
Background/Objectives:
The primary objective of this study was to explore physicians' adherence to the dietary pattern known as the Mediterranean diet (MD). As a secondary objective we assessed physicians' awareness on the benefits of the MD and of the possibility of prescribing it.
Subjects/Methods:
Physicians' adherence to the MD was evaluated through the Spanish associations SEMERGEN and CAMFIC, who sent the validated PREDIMED screener to their affiliates. The results reflected a high, medium, low or very low level of adherence depending on total score. The sample was drawn between 2014 and 2016. The second questionnaire evaluated the physicians' knowledge of the MD and their opinion about recommending it.
Results:
The PREDIMED test was answered by 422 Spanish physicians. In 8 out of 14 questions, more than 50% of the individuals scored only 1 point. However, 3 questions resulted in 1 point being scored by almost all physicians. Thus, on average, 55% of questions obtained 1-point scoring. The second questionnaire was answered by 212 physicians; 70% of them considered themselves to be aware of the benefits of the MD. More than 60% said they could invest 5 min of their time to recommend the MD.
Conclusions:
Primary care physicians do not show a high level of adherence to the MD and emphasize the need for creating tools to evaluate it in their patients. This research can be useful as both a database and a justification for the creation of a new protocol to help physicians increase their own and their patients' MD adherence.
Insights
Physicians show low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and limited knowledge of its benefits. This highlights a need for tools to improve MD adoption in primary care for both doctors and patients.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Medical Education
- Public Health
Background:
- Physician adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) is crucial for promoting healthy eating habits.
- Understanding physicians' awareness of MD benefits and their willingness to prescribe it is essential for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate primary care physicians' adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD).
- To assess physicians' awareness of the MD's health benefits and their perceived ability to recommend it to patients.
Main Methods:
- A validated screener (PREDIMED) was distributed by SEMERGEN and CAMFIC to 422 Spanish physicians between 2014-2016 to assess MD adherence.
- A secondary questionnaire surveyed 212 physicians on their knowledge and willingness to recommend the MD.
Main Results:
- On average, 55% of PREDIMED questions were answered with low scores, indicating suboptimal MD adherence among physicians.
- While 70% of surveyed physicians recognized the benefits of the MD, over 60% expressed willingness to dedicate 5 minutes to recommend it.
Conclusions:
- Primary care physicians exhibit low adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
- There is a clear need for developing practical tools and protocols to enhance both physician and patient adherence to the MD.
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