Prevalence of Lifestyle Factors Among Primary Care Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

TL;DR

This study found that most primary care physicians in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, have unhealthy lifestyles, with low physical activity being the most common issue.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the lifestyle behaviors of primary care physicians in a specific region of Saudi Arabia.

Findings

71.2% of physicians had multiple unhealthy lifestyle factors.

Low physical activity was the most prevalent issue, affecting 73% of participants.

Over half of the physicians were obese or had poor nutrition.

Abstract

Introduction

The importance of a healthy lifestyle has grown in significance on a global scale, as it offers a vital means of preventing and managing a range of related illnesses. Consequently, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is of paramount importance for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases. The lifestyle behaviors of healthcare workers exert a significant influence on their attitudes and counseling methods, as they play a pivotal role in the promotion of health and the dissemination of lifestyle education to patients and the general population.

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of lifestyle factors among primary care physicians in Al-Ahsa Governorate, including smoking, body mass index, nutrition, physical activity, and caffeine consumption.

Methods

The study was conducted between December 2023 and February 2024. A total of 233 primary care physicians in Al-Ahsa were selected through a probability multistage clustering sampling method. Data were collected via the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire to the primary care physicians and were analyzed using the chi-square test.

Results

A greater proportion of primary care physicians exhibited multiple unhealthy lifestyle factors (166/233, 71.2%). The most prevalent lifestyle factor was low physical activity (169/233, 73%), followed by poor nutrition (121/233, 52%), obesity (120/233, 51.51%), smoking (37/233, 15.88%), and caffeine consumption (22/233, 9%). The majority of primary care physicians with optimal health status are employed in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities situated in the eastern region followed by the southern region in Al-Ahsa Governorate.

Conclusion

The study findings revealed a prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle factors among the majority of primary care physicians in the Al-Ahsa Governorate. The most prevalent unhealthy lifestyle factor among the participants was low physical activity.