Lifestyle of Primary health care Physicians and Nurses Regarding Nutrition Patterns in Saudi Arabia 2024

Abstract

Background: Nutrition is a key modifiable determinant of non-communicable diseases, for which evidence illustrates the impact of changing dietary patterns on health outcomes. More specifically, dietary interventions play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment strategy of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Primary health care physicians and nurses are, for several reasons, considered to be a key group in health promotion, especially due to the fact that the healthcare system reaches a substantial number of people in need of lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity (PA). Furthermore, healthcare professionals (HCPs) are considered to be the most credible source of health information. HCPs' lifestyles can play an important role in increasing awareness among patients regarding lifestyle changes, because HCPs' own lifestyle habits and interests in lifestyle behavior have been shown to positively influence their counseling practices and attitudes.
The study aimed: To assess the lifestyle of primary healthcare physicians and nurses regarding nutrition patterns in Saudi Arabia 2024.
Methods: A cross sectional study was utilized. Researchers conducted survey based on a standardized and adapted questionnaire that included socio-demographic data and points related to nutrition healthy lifestyle. Researchers adhered to the latest recommendations on designing and reporting survey studies.
Results: the present revealed that nurses were more likely to adhere to healthy eating principles and to have a regular diet at home. Physicians were more likely to consume fast food and add salt when food is not salted enough. Nurses were more likely to eat greens regularly. Physicians had a stronger belief in the impact of diet on health. More nurses rated their diet as healthy. Media promotion significantly influenced Physicians for changing diet towards healthier options. Eating patterns vary according to the risk of stress. The current study shows that chronic stress influences the amount and types of consumed food, contributing to both overeating and malnutrition, and that stress hormones can lead to the development of obesity. Conclusion: It is known that a healthy lifestyle of physicians affects the attitude of patients and their motivation to change their lifestyle. Thus, the lifestyle patterns of HCPs, as well as the understanding of the motivation of these patterns, are more likely to affect public health.