Table 4.

Associations with High Fish Prescribers and Dietary Knowledge, Training, and Attitudes Variables

High Fish Prescribers
No (n = 185)Yes (n = 38)
DIETARY KNOWLEDGE
General diet questions (correctly answered)% (n)% (n)P Value*
    Antioxidants do not reduce CVD†77 (143)71 (27).410
    Low sodium diets lower blood pressure71 (131)68 (26).769
    Fruits and vegetables lower blood pressure32 (59)37 (14).554
Fish questions (correctly answered)
    Fish oil reduces CVD54 (100)68 (26).104
    Fish oil reduces triglycerides42 (77)50 (19).342
    Fish oil reduces sudden cardiac death23 (42)45 (17).005
NUTRITION TRAINING
    Any89 (165)97.4 (37).138‡
    CME28 (134)15.7 (6).131
    Medical school49.7 (92)60.5 (23).225
    Residency52.4 (97)57.9 (22).539
    Other23.8 (44)18.4 (7).473
DIETARY ATTITUDESP Value§
Nutrition has an important part to play in the prevention of CVD
    Neutral1.1 (2)—.730
    Agree32.4 (60)36.8 (14)
    Strongly agree66.5 (123)63.3 (24)
The primary care physician has an essential role in giving dietary advice
    Strongly disagree0.5 (1)—.309
    Disagree1.1 (2)—
    Neutral7.0 (13)5.3 (2)
    Agree44.3 (82)39.5 (15)
    Strongly agree47.0 (87)55.3 (21)
Advice given will impact on what people eat
    Disagree8.6 (16)7.9 (3).841
    Neutral24.3 (45)26.3 (10)
    Agree55.1 (102)50.0 (19)
    Strongly agree11.9 (22)15.8 (6)
Advice given will be effective in reducing CVD
    Strongly disagree0.5 (1)–.095
    Disagree7.6 (14)5.3 (2)
    Neutral41.6 (77)31.6 (12)
    Agree43.8 (81)50.0 (19)
    Strongly agree6.5 (12)13.2 (5)
The primary care physician has sufficient time to advise patients adequately
    Strongly disagree29.7 (55)15.8 (6).018
    Disagree41.6 (77)36.8 (14)
    Neutral11.9 (22)18.4 (7)
    Agree15.7 (29)28.9 (11)
    Strongly agree1.1 (2)

  • * CVD, cardiovascular disease; CME, continuing medical education.

  • † χ2 test.

  • ‡ Fisher’s exact test.

  • § Mann-Whitney U.