Influence of Osteopathic Medical Students’ Personal Health on Attitudes Toward Counseling Obese Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Context: Research has shown that physicians with positive health and lifestyle behaviors have more positive attitudes toward effective counseling, but little is known about how personal health behaviors of medical students influence their attitudes regarding pediatric obesity counseling before entering practice. Objective: To determine whether the personal health status and habits of osteopathic medical students influence their attitudes toward counseling obese pediatric patients regarding lifestyle behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed electronically to firstthrough fourth-year osteopathic medical students. The survey assessed students' personal lifestyle habits and their top anticipated barriers to providing pediatric weight counseling. Results: A total of 200 participants completed the survey. National physical activity recommendations were met by 81 participants (40.5%). These 81 participants had significantly more positive attitudes toward pediatric physical activity counseling than participants who did not meet the recommendations (H=−35.06, P=.001) or those who only met resistance training recommendations (H=40.63, P=.021). Participants with obesity had significantly lower pediatric weight management counseling scores than overweight participants (H=40.77, P=.028). Thirty-one participants (15.5%) consumed a healthy amount of both vegetables and fruit. These 31 participants had significantly higher dietary mean item counseling scores than those who did not (H=−30.40, P=.048). Participants identified the barriers "Time" (137 [68.5%]) and "Difficult for patients to change behavior" (99 [49.5%]) most frequently. Clinical participants identified "Poor or lacking reimbursement" (21 [28.0%]) more frequently than preclinical participants (12 [9.6]). Conclusion: Medical students who exhibited healthier lifestyle habits were more likely to positively view pediatric obesity management counseling.

Mental health and lifestyle behaviors of students in a doctor of chiropractic program

“…17 We reviewed 2 studies that found an association between medical students' fruit and vegetable intake and their attitudes towards providing patient nutritional counseling. 5,8 Specifically, Duperly et al found 5th-year Colombian medical students who consumed 5 or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables were more likely to agree or strongly agree that it is important for physicians to counsel patients on this behavior. 5 Whipps et al found that osteopathic students in Ohio who ate 3 or more vegetables per day and 2 or more fruits per day had higher pediatric dietary counseling scores (including agreeing with ''physicians have a responsibility to promote eating a healthy diet with their patients'') compared with students who had lower levels of vegetable and/or fruit intake.…”

“…5 Whipps et al found that osteopathic students in Ohio who ate 3 or more vegetables per day and 2 or more fruits per day had higher pediatric dietary counseling scores (including agreeing with ''physicians have a responsibility to promote eating a healthy diet with their patients'') compared with students who had lower levels of vegetable and/or fruit intake. 8 Specific to chiropractic students, DuMonthier et al found students with vegetarian diets (compared to students who reported heavy meat consumption) were more likely to rate as important that chiropractors educate patients on healthy behaviors and to model healthy behaviors. 9 In 14% of our reviewed files, students reported meeting fruit and vegetable dietary guidelines at the beginning of the DCP, which is similar to the 15% of Ohio osteopathic students meeting these guidelines in a 2019 study by Whipps et al 8 and higher than the 10% reported by California pharmacy and medical students in the study by Bergeron et al 14 By the end of our DCP, 30% of our students reported meeting these guidelines.…”

“…8 Specific to chiropractic students, DuMonthier et al found students with vegetarian diets (compared to students who reported heavy meat consumption) were more likely to rate as important that chiropractors educate patients on healthy behaviors and to model healthy behaviors. 9 In 14% of our reviewed files, students reported meeting fruit and vegetable dietary guidelines at the beginning of the DCP, which is similar to the 15% of Ohio osteopathic students meeting these guidelines in a 2019 study by Whipps et al 8 and higher than the 10% reported by California pharmacy and medical students in the study by Bergeron et al 14 By the end of our DCP, 30% of our students reported meeting these guidelines. We also observed 76% of our students reported eating 5 or more daily fruit/vegetable servings at the end of their DCP, compared to 40% of 5 th -year students consuming this amount in a study of medical students.…”

“…Our study only assessed the self-reported health and behaviors of our chiropractic students, and we cannot directly link their behaviors as students to their actual patient care practices. Other research has reported that health professional students who are inattentive to managing their own stress, 15 alcohol use, 5,6 and nutrition 5,8,9 are also less likely to promote healthy behaviors for stress management, alcohol, and nutrition for patients in their clinical practices. In which case, programs aimed at improving the mental health and lifestyle behaviors of health professional students may also ''pay forward'' to the benefit of their prospective future patients.…”

“…Several studies also indicate an association between medical students' lifestyle behaviors and their patient interactions including their attitudes towards counseling patients on preventive health strategies. [5][6][7][8] Specific to health habits and lifestyle behaviors of chiropractic health professional students, prior research has suggested that chiropractic students may become less physically active as the time demands of their curricular program increases, and that students prone to bingedrinking (5 or more drinks in 1 occasion) may increase those behaviors over the long-term course of their intensive curricular program. 9 Binge drinking may be a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, and depression, 10 conditions commonly reported among chiropractic students in Canada.…”