Knowledge and clinical practice regarding calcium nutrition among obstetrician-gynecologists

Abstract

Objective: To survey the knowledge of and attitude toward nutrition among practicing obstetrician-gynecologists, using calcium as a specific example.

Methods: Our survey on calcium nutrition consisted of 29 questions divided into four categories: demographic information, professional interest and clinical practice, knowledge and opinions, and education. We mailed this survey to the 244 ACOG Fellows who are members of the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network and to a random sample of 756 Fellows who are not members of the Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network.

Results: Most (75.4%) respondents considered making dietary recommendations an important part of their practice. Interest in nutrition was correlated significantly with its perceived importance in clinical practice and was associated with a greater self-reported likelihood of making dietary recommendations to patients and referring patients to nutritional counseling. Nutrition was of greater importance to women and to older respondents. Women were more likely to make dietary recommendations to patients. Men were more likely to recommend nonfoods and higher fat foods as sources of dietary calcium. The daily calcium intake that obstetrician-gynecologists recommended for different types of patients varied widely but did not differ between male and female respondents. The responses to the knowledge questions concerning calcium metabolism were predominantly "don't know."

Conclusions: Although specific knowledge of calcium metabolism and regulation was incomplete, obstetrician-gynecologists generally recognized the importance of nutrition in their clinical practice. Being older and female independently increased the perceived importance of nutrition.