Table 2 Family medicine residents’ attitudes toward their role as healthy lifestyle consultants

Composite attitude score

2.97

0.279

55

2.85

0.232

84

2.91

0.26

143

0.006

My profession does not only include treating diseases. It includes lifestyle counseling, as well.

3.85

0.356

55

3.81

0.452

84

3.83

0.416

143

0.698

Lifestyle counseling is very effective.

3.22

0.686

55

3

0.698

83

3.1

0.698

142

0.079

Patients expect physicians to be role models in their personal health behaviors.

3.47

0.604

55

3.36

0.633

84

3.41

0.62

143

0.281

Physicians have a higher impact on their patients’ behavioral changes than other providers.

3.26

0.65

54

3

0.66

79

3.11

0.665

135

0.019

 Smoking cessation

3.04

0.576

55

3.02

0.514

84

3.03

0.53

143

0.884

 Losing weight

3.09

0.591

54

3

0.609

82

3.03

0.603

138

0.418

 Engaging in physical activity

3.11

0.577

53

2.91

0.592

82

2.99

0.588

137

0.063

 Many physicians do not guide their patients toward a healthy lifestyle because:

 They do not believe in the effectiveness of counseling.

2.55

0.741

55

2.34

0.741

82

2.43

0.75

140

0.123

 Employers do not compensate for counseling.

2.65

0.731

54

2.43

0.821

81

2.53

0.794

138

0.095

 Residents lack relevant knowledge.

2.62

0.828

55

2.37

0.679

81

2.47

0.745

139

0.071

 It is not a part of their job.

2.09

0.701

55

2.06

0.705

83

2.09

0.702

141

0.994

 It is less interesting to them.

2.53

0.663

55

2.48

0.82

82

2.51

0.763

140

0.801

 They lack time.

3.31

0.639

54

3.21

0.646

81

3.26

0.645

137

0.366