Doha – A recent study has examined the dietary habits of primary healthcare practitioners (PHPs) in Qatar. It also analyzed how these habits influence their approach to patient counselling on nutrition.
The research underscores the crucial role physicians play in shaping patients’ health choices. It suggests that effective lifestyle counselling requires practitioners to model healthy eating behaviors themselves.
Published in the March edition of the Qatar Journal of Public Health and on the QScience platform, the study titled Nourishing Insights surveyed 306 PHPs from Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) centres. The survey used a questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Stepwise survey.
Findings revealed that 75.1% of healthcare providers did not meet the WHO’s recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Despite this, 58.2% of patients still received dietary and weight management advice from their PHPs.
The study found a strong correlation between practitioners’ personal eating habits and their likelihood of offering diet counselling. Those who consumed fast food and sweets less than once a week were 20% more likely to provide nutritional guidance to their patients.
Gender emerged as a key factor in adherence to WHO dietary recommendations. Notably, female practitioners were more likely to meet the guidelines than their male counterparts. However, adherence to these recommendations did not directly impact their willingness to offer dietary counselling.
The study also highlighted significant barriers to effective patient counselling. These included time constraints and language differences that limited comprehensive dietary discussions.
Researchers recommend that PHPs adopt healthier diets to set a positive example for patients. A well-balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats can enhance both practitioners’ health and their ability to counsel patients effectively.
The study calls for further research into the relationship between healthcare providers’ personal nutrition and their patient interactions. It suggests that qualitative research, including focus groups, could offer deeper insights into challenges and motivations related to diet-related patient education.
