Attitudes and behaviors of family physicians towards nutrition, dietetics and dietitians: The sample of Yalova province

Background and Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of family physicians towards dietitians, and to identify barriers to collaboration between family physicians and dietitians in primary care. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted with 79 family physicians working at Family Health Centers in Yalova province who agreed to participate in the study. The survey form was prepared by the researcher after a literature review on the relevant topic. Results: Of the family physicians, 82,3% reported that they had never worked with a dietitian before. Among those who had previously collaborated with a dietitian, 42,9% rated the experience as beneficial to the patient's medical treatment, 35,7% as very beneficial, and only 7,1% as poor. In our study, 82,3% of the family physicians stated that nutrition education should be included in their professional training. Family physicians who received nutrition education during their professional training found this training sufficient at a rate of 39,1%. Findings related to the active use of the Disease Management Platform varied depending on the examination durations and patient numbers of the family physicians. In our study, 84,8% of participants believed that there should be a collaborative effort between family physicians and dietitians to achieve professional goals. The majority of physicians think that dietitians should work in family health centers. Conclusion: This study revealed areas for improvement in the attitudes and behaviors of family physicians regarding nutrition and dietetics. Enhancements in these areas hold significant potential for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. The importance of nutrition in chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity should be emphasized, and family physicians should be supported in this regard. The presence of dietitians in family health centers will not only reduce the workload of physicians but also contribute to the provision of more effective healthcare services.