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. 2024 Nov 15:15598276241277460. Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1177/15598276241277460

Table 4.

Association of Family Physician’s Perception of the Importance of and Use of Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies With Perception of the Importance of Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).

Composite Score for the Perception of the Impact Social Determinants of Health Have on Their Patient’s Health
Bivariate Analysis Multivariate Analysis***
N Mean Difference (95% CI)** P N Adjusted Mean Difference (95% CI)** P
Perception of lifestyle medicine core competencies*
 Clinical lifestyle medicine competencies 354 0.41 (0.12, 0.70) .006 315 0.41 (0.32, 0.50) <.001
 Community-based lifestyle medicine competencies 347 0.51 (0.35, 0.67) <.001 310 0.51 (0.46, 0.56) <.001
Use of clinical lifestyle medicine competencies
 Perform a history and physical exam specific to lifestyle-related health status 354 0.15 (−0.14, 0.45) .3 315 0.16 (0.05, 0.26) .003
 Order and interpret tests to screen, diagnose, and monitor lifestyle-related diseases 354 0.04 (−0.26, 0.33) .81 315 0.04 (−0.07, 0.14) .5
 Counsel patients using behavioral modification techniques 354 0.37 (0.07, 0.67) .02 315 0.37 (0.26, 0.47) <.001
 Tailor care and recommendations to the patient context 354 0.38 (−0.01, 0.76) .06 315 0.38 (0.24, 0.51) <.001
 Assist patients in self-managing their behavior and lifestyles using evidence-based, achievable, specific written plans 354 0.32 (0.14, 0.50) <.001 315 0.32 (0.26, 0.38) <.001
Use of community-based lifestyle medicine competencies
 Use appropriate community referral resources that support the implementation of healthy lifestyles 354 0.33 (0.17, 0.49) .001 315 0.33 (0.28, 0.39) <.001
 Partner with public health and community-based organizations to share information, coordinate services, and build shared capacity for chronic disease prevention 354 0.11 (−0.04, 0.25) .15 315 0.11 (0.05, 0.16) <.001
 Advocate for policies that would improve community conditions that influence patient and population health 354 0.21 (0.07, 0.36) .004 315 0.21 (0.16, 0.26) <.001

Notes: *Clinical and community-based lifestyle medicine competency factors were identified using Principal component analysis. Mean composite scores were created based on the mean of the items included in each factor. A binary variable for the perception of LM competencies was created splitting responses into those that perceived lifestyle medicine core competencies to be important/very important and less than important.

** The mean difference in composite scores is calculated as the difference in mean composite scores of family physicians’ perception of the impact social determinants of health have on their patient’s health between respondents that perceived lifestyle medicine core competencies to be important/very important and less than important, as well as respondents that practiced lifestyle medicine core competencies regularly or somewhat regularly compared to those that did not practice.

*** Multivariate analysis adjusts for gender and social deprivation index (sdi) score.