Brief Training Program for General Practitioners on Malnutrition and Adapted Physical Activity

Malnutrition and Adapted Physical Activity in Older Adults: Impact of a Brief Training Program on General Practitioners' Knowledge and Practices: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized, parallel-group interventional study evaluated the impact of brief targeted training on general practitioners' knowledge and professional practices regarding malnutrition and adapted physical activity (APA). Final-year GP residents and practicing GPs in the Pays de la Loire region were randomly assigned to either a malnutrition training group or an APA training group. Each group served as an active control for the topic not received. Knowledge and self-reported practices were assessed using an online questionnaire before and one month after training.

Participants were recruited in the Pays de la Loire region, France. Recruitment occurred in two phases: invitations to final-year GP residents in November 2024 with a reminder in May 2025, and regional dissemination through the Regional Union of Private Practitioners in April 2025. Inclusion occurred from 13 January to 14 August 2025. Participants were randomized equally to a malnutrition training group or an APA training group. The malnutrition intervention consisted of a 10-minute online training video and a summary leaflet. The APA intervention consisted of a 14-minute online training video and a summary leaflet. The videos were based on relevant guidelines and the leaflets summarized the main messages. Participants completed identical online questionnaires at inclusion and one month after training. The questionnaire assessed practice characteristics, sedentary behavior and APA prescribing, and malnutrition diagnosis and management.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Final-year GP residents in ambulatory training and practicing GPs in the Pays de la Loire region, willing to participate in the study and complete the study questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

• None