Preventive Health Practices among Doctors in Delhi.

INTRODUCTION: With times, increasing attention is being given to doctor's own health as it is known to influence their patient care. Little is known about preventive health practices among them. OBJECTIVE: To assess preventive health practices among doctors in Delhi. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study undertaken amongst the doctors working in selected hospitals, dispensaries and private clinics in Delhi. A self-administered questionnaire containing items for assessment of preventive health and self-care practices was used to collect the data. RESULTS: Out of the total 160 participants, there were 118 males (73.8%) and 42 (26.2%) females. The mean age of the participants was 29.9±7.4 years. There were 55 doctors (34.4%) who were suffering from chronic diseases like vision problems, dental problems, hypertension and diabetes. Nearly half of the doctors (n=74; 46.2%) did not have any for health insurance. Majority of the doctors (n=65; 40.6%) were obese. The knowledge regarding preventive health guidelines regarding all of the tests asked for, was low among the study participants. As far as preventive health practices were concerned, only 8.8% (14) had checked their blood pressure according to recommended guidelines while none of them had their lipid profile done. While there were 9 female doctors (21.4%) who had done their self breast examination in last six months, there was only 1 participant who had undergone pap test. With respect to self-care practices when the physicians last fell ill, majority had self-managed themselves (n=108; 67.5%). CONCLUSION: Preventive health care practices among the doctors are low. There an urgent need for them to follow good health care practices which they in turn can advocate to their patients.