Developing Tomorrow's Family Practice Physicians: Adding Nutrition-Based Knowledge to the Patient Assessment and Treatment Tool Kit

Abstract

Family medicine residents often receive minimal nutrition training prior to starting their residency programs. A required two-week clinical nutrition rotationwas developed to train residents to incorporate key nutrition principles from the life cycle into their medical practice. Development of the training experience was spearheaded by an endocrinologist and registered dietitian (RD), with essential manpower provided by hospital-based clinical nutrition team collaborators who assisted in designing a unique RD-led training program for first year FamilyMedicine residents. Using the American Academy of Family Practice nutrition curriculum as a guideline, the following nutrition focus areaswere selected for clinical training opportunities: generalmedicine and pediatrics, growth and nutrition, adult and pediatric diabetes, GI (gastrointestinal), oncology, renal disease and transplant, bariatrics and nutrition support. Key concepts and population specific journal articles were provided prior to the two-week rotation. During the experience, the ten residents each observed and participated in various aspects of nutrition care including: data collection and patient interviews, nutrition assessment, documentation and interdisciplinary development of patient treatment plans. Didactic components, including lectures in nutrition in the lifecycle and nutrient/drug interactions, were also provided. Participants were also required to complete online Nutrition in Medicine modules. A short anonymous survey to assess program efficacy was sent to all residents at the conclusion of the training. Survey results are pending and will be presented as a part of the final poster.