Physicians can better communicate with patients about their diets through motivational interviewing, according to the American Medical Association.
"Increasingly, patients are asking their doctors about what they should do with their diet but, most physicians just haven't had enough training to address those questions," said Stephen Devries, MD, a cardiologist and executive director of the suburban Chicago-based Gaples Institute, an organization that aims to educate patients on nutrition and heart disease prevention.
Rather than persuading physicians to change their dietary habits, physicians can use motivational interviewing, where patients carry the conversation.
Physicians start this process by asking the patient about their interest in changing their diet, followed by actively listening to the patient. Through this active listening, physicians can help patients identify where they want to make changes based on their own life experience and goals.
Additionally, if a patient knows nutrition is a priority for their physician, they are more likely to care about their own diet, Dr. Devries said. "We know that clinicians who adopt healthier lifestyle practices themselves are more likely to counsel their patients about healthy practices."