Changing physicians' attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy regarding cholesterol screening and management

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Education
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• High blood cholesterol (BC) management requires practical physician guidance.
• The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) identified a need for improved BC management strategies.
• Family medicine residents require enhanced skills in BC screening and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve family medicine residents' attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, and practices in BC screening and management.
• To assess the impact of a BC screening and management training program on resident physicians.
• To evaluate the practicality and utility of NCEP-based BC management protocols.

Main Methods:

• A training program was developed for 36 resident physicians.
• Training included BC screening techniques, diet assessment/counseling, and NCEP-guided management protocols.
• Surveys assessed resident knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and practices pre- and post-training.

Main Results:

• Residents showed significant improvements in reported knowledge and attitudes toward BC management.
• Self-efficacy and reported practices in dietary counseling and patient education significantly increased.
• Residents found the training program worthwhile, necessary, and practical for future use.

Conclusions:

• The BC screening and management training program effectively enhanced resident physicians' skills and confidence.
• The training program's practical approach, based on NCEP guidelines, is valuable for medical education.
• Improved resident practices in BC management can lead to better patient outcomes.