Do Italian ObGyn Residents Have Enough Knowledge to Counsel Women About Nutritional Facts? Results of an On-Line Survey.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Nutrition plays a key role in gynecologic conditions, pregnancy, and perinatal outcomes; therefore, nutritional counseling is essential in obstetric and gynecologic care. The present study aimed to delineate Italian Obstetrics and Gynecology (ObGyn) residents' awareness of women's nutrition and supplementation in different stages of life. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey about women's nutrition and supplementation use throughout their lifetime. A 31-item survey questionnaire was distributed to Italian ObGyn Residents. Results: 258 Italian ObGyn Residents completed the online survey. About 40% of the responders considered their knowledge of women's nutritional needs poor or very poor. A total of 226 residents (88%) declared that there is not enough time dedicated to women's nutrition during their specialty program, and almost all the trainees would consider training in this area helpful for achieving a better professional profile. A total of 128 participants (49.6%) demonstrated insufficient knowledge in this field. Most (97.1%) of the responding trainees recommend supplementation during different stages of women's lives. Conclusions: Italian ObGyn residents are not very skilled in women's nutrition. There is an urgent need to develop specific training and interventions to educate our ObGyn residents about the importance of improving nutritional habits in patient care.