Responses of patients to nutrition counseling by family physicians

This paper examines patient responses to nutrition counseling activities of their family physicians. Two hundred-six patients (seen by one of nine family physicians) were asked whether the physician inquired about their dietary practices and whether they were asked to change any of these practices. Patients were also asked whether they understood, agreed with, and changed any of their dietary practices as a result of the consultation. Responses are examined in light of the self-reported physical condition of the patient. Patients without nutrition-related conditions were just as likely to be asked about their eating habits as patients with nutrition-related conditions. Patients with nutrition-related conditions were far more likely to report being asked to change their practices than patients with no nutrition-related conditions (p less than .001). However, self-reported change in dietary practices as a result of physician counseling did not vary by nutrition related condition.