Level of knowledge of comprehensive general practitioners in Colombia about human nutrition

Abstract

Human nutrition is an essential instrument when carrying out health interventions; this requires professionals with an adequate level of knowledge on this subject. Objective: To characterize the levels of knowledge about human nutrition that specialists and residents in comprehensive general medicine have. Method: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in the municipality of Colombia, in the period between September 2022 and February 2023. The sample was made up of 162 professionals, to whom a questionnaire structured in five topics was applied. .The percentage analysis of the results was carried out. Results: 56.2% demonstrated knowledge at medium and high levels, the rest showed significant insufficiencies (71 professionals). Due to the type of question, 49.4% (80 professionals) revealed difficulties in different aspects that constitute generalities of human nutrition. In contrast, 62.3% demonstrated medium and high levels of knowledge about the use of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of diseases. By topic, the deficiencies focused on: General aspects and Food, with 51.2 and 58.7%, respectively. Conclusions: Among the professionals included in the study, there was a slight predominance of those with medium and high levels of knowledge about human nutrition. The greatest cognitive deficiencies were in relating nutrients to food and in general aspects of nutrition, which must be kept in mind when promoting healthy lifestyles.