Driving forces for and barriers to nutrition guidance practices of Dutch primary care physicians

Determinants of the nutrition guidance practices of primary care physicians (PCPs) were studied using a mail questionnaire developed on the basis of focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and literature review. The questionnaire was sent to a nationwide random sample of 1000 PCPs (in practice for between 3 and 15 years). The net response race was 64%. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify determinants of nutrition guidance practices. The independent variables studied were the perceived barriers to nutrition guidance practices, characteristics of the respondents, and nutrition attitudes and beliefs of PCPs. As determinants of nutrition guidance practices, we identified both perceived barriers (which exert a negative influence) and driving forces (which exert a positive influence). The driving forces observed in PCPs were an active interest in the effect of nutrition on health and disease, a basic level of nutrition knowledge, and positive attitudes towards nutrition guidance practices. Although perceived barriers can be strong, negative determinants of being involved in nutrition guidance practices, in future, it may become more important to stress the driving forces that positively determine the involvement of PCPs in nutrition guidance practices.