Dietary guidance from GPs - what do patients report?

Area of Science:

• General Practice
• Preventive Medicine
• Health Behavior

Background:

• Diet significantly impacts overall health.
• Patient-initiated discussions about diet in general practice are common.
• Understanding patient desire for dietary guidance is crucial for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent of diet-related discussions in general practice.
• To identify patient demographics and conditions associated with a desire for dietary guidance.
• To inform healthcare strategies for delivering personalized dietary advice.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among adult patients (≥18 years) in Western Norway in 2022.
• The study involved 2075 participants, analyzing their dietary knowledge, desire for guidance, weight loss goals, and medication use.
• Logistic regression identified factors influencing patients' desire for diet and health advice.

Main Results:

• One-third of patients discussed diet with their GP.
• 56% of patients desired advice on how diet affects health, and 62% wanted to lose weight.
• Younger patients, men, those with lower education, individuals seeking weight loss, and those on chronic medication were more likely to want dietary guidance.

Conclusions:

• Over half of general practice patients seek advice on diet's impact on health.
• Identifying patient subgroups desiring dietary guidance can optimize consultation prioritization.
• Tailored dietary interventions in primary care settings can address patient needs effectively.