An Interprofessional Nutrition Education Session for Senior Medical Students on Evidence-Based Diet Patterns and Practical Nutrition Tips

Abstract

Introduction

Dietary factors are recognized as a major contributor to the global burden of disease, and the obesity epidemic continues to be a major public health problem. Patients rely on doctors for dietary advice and to serve as role models for health behaviors. However, nutrition content is significantly underrepresented in medical school curricula.

Methods

We created an interactive session to address this gap during the ambulatory medicine rotation for senior medical students and delivered it as a 90- to 120-minute interactive monthly didactic session. We focused on reviewing evidence-based diet patterns for weight loss and hypertension and on use of practical tools for diet assessment and counseling. Immediately and 1 month after delivery, we administered a knowledge and confidence assessment survey to evaluate the session impact.

Results

We incorporated the session into the regular didactic time of the clerkship. Sixty-six students attended over an 8-month period, of whom 42 completed the survey. Immediately and 1 month after delivery, participants reported statistically significant improvements ( p < .001) in their confidence in the domains measured. Participants' knowledge scores increased immediately and 1 month after the session compared to before participation.

Discussion

We delivered a single recurring seminar on diet patterns and practical tips that was well received by fourth-year medical students during the ambulatory medicine clerkship. The seminar was a practical and interactive way of delivering important nutrition content to the medical school curriculum, and we demonstrated retention of confidence and knowledge of the delivered content.