VOLUNTARY LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES OF CHILEAN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS

This study aimed at assessing life style changes and knowledge regarding healthy diet and physical activity among Chilean primary health care (PHC) professionals. The sample of 194 PHC workers was composed of physicians, nurses, nutritionists, midwives and social workers, of which 86% were women.The majority reported to have made positive changes in their lifestyle: more than 80% stated that they consumed less fat and ate more vegetables; two-thirds said they ate less sugar; around half reported that they drank less alcohol and 45% that they were more physically active. Negative changes like increasing the consumption of soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco were highest in the youngest of all the age groups. Eighty percents correctly answered the knowledge questions about healthy diet and physical activity. Significant differences among the professionals could be identified. Most of the PHC professionals show a positive change in their lifestyle and have a high knowledge level about healthy diet and physical activity. It has to be emphasized that good teamwork among nutritionists, physicians, nurses and other PHC workers is a necessary pre-condition to improve the effectiveness of a heath care team dealing with non-communicable disease prevention

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Jungjohann,Svenja, Zacarías,Isabel, Keller,Ingrid
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedad Chilena de Nutrición, Bromatología y Toxicología 2002
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-75182002000300005
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