A Multidisciplinary and Formal Nutrition Education is Needed in Graduate Medical Education

Abstract

IntroductionA needs assessment survey was constructed to determine faculty resources and commitment for nutrition education from Graduate Medical educators. The null hypothesis was all specialties had insufficient faculty resources to educate about current nutritional practice.Methods and A needs assessment was sent in a survey format of 25 questions to 495 ACGME Residency Program Directors in Anesthesia, Family Medicine, Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Surgery. There was a 14% response rate (72 programs), consistent with similar studies on the topic.ResultsThe majority of respondents were primary care programs (32 Family Medicine, 23 Medicine and one Pediatric). Most program directors had a fair knowledge of nutrition themselves, with 10% reporting expert knowledge, and 41 programs did not identify an expert. The majority of experts were often not considered formal Graduate Medical educators (MDs = 37, RD = 38, Pharm D= 13, RN= 12 and PhD =7). Nutrition education occurs informally, by non‐MD providers as only 19 residencies had a formal nutrition course. Seventy seven percent of residencies felt they did not meet the required educational goals for and 72% felt a national curriculum would overcome this obstacle.ConclusionsThere is indeed a dearth of nutrition education in current graduate medical education. Most programs lack the expertise/commitment to teach a formal course but recognize the need to meet educational requirements. Most programs rely on non‐MD multidisciplinary experts to teach residents. A broad based, diverse specialty educational program taught by MDs and other non‐MD experts is needed for training in nutrition during residency.