Conocimientos y actitudes en alimentación y actividad física de los residentes de medicina familiar de una universidad en Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Background: The modification of risk factors through the promotion of healthy lifestyles is a cost-effective strategy in the control of noncommunicable diseases. The family doctor is responsible for promoting them, for which it requires adequate knowledge and attitudes that allow an assertive communication with their patients. Objective: Identify the knowledge and attitudes in nutrition and physical activity of the family medicine residents of El Bosque University in Bogotá. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. A survey of knowledge and attitudes about healthy eating and physical activity was designed, which was applied to residents of the family medicine program in August-2017. Frequencies, percentages, averages and standard deviations were reported. The Chi2 test was used for comparisons between sex and years of residence, assuming a value p <0.05. Results: The research involved 55 students (77 % of the population), with an average age of 31.6 years (+/-3.44) and 65.5 % were women. The percentage of correct answers in nutrition and physical activity were 73 % and 77 % respectively, with no difference between years of residence (p> 0.05). 72.7 % consider that nutritional counseling / assessment should be included in the consultation and only 38.2 % and 40% of participants feel comfortable addressing nutrition and physical activity issues respectively. Conclusions: Favorable attitudes towards nutrition and physical activity were found; knowledge gaps in nutrition and physical activity are relevant and require prompt attention from the program.