Nutrition education for medical students: 4th year transition to residency for primary care (1020.3)

Abstract

Nutrition Education for Medical Students: 4th Year Transition to Residency for Primary CareMarilyn S. Edwards, Ph.D., R.D., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX 77030Objectives: 1. To provide medical students the skills for counseling patients on effective diet and lifestyle modification for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.2. To develop competency in the assessment of physical activity and writing a prescription for appropriate exercise for patients.3. To develop skills to initiate a physician referral for Medical Nutrition Therapy.Methods: Participants in a 2‐hour Transition to Residency Nutrition Workshop use the interactive web‐based Nutrition in Medicine (NIM) short courses to develop clinical skills for assessing and counseling patients. Students begin with the 5 Stages of Change for patient counseling and develop specific skills relevant to patients with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Students assess whether patients meet physical activity guidelines, address barriers, and write a prescription for physical activity. The workshop concludes with students developing skills to initiate a physician referral for Medical Nutrition Therapy including diagnosis code, relevant medications and lab values.Results: Evaluations from 4th year medical students indicate that a hands‐on interactive workshop reinforces their nutrition knowledge and clinical skills relevant to chronic disease and is essential in preparing for residency programs in internal medicine, family medicine, and ob/gyn.Conclusions: Given the limited curriculum time devoted to teaching nutrition to medical students, a critical time in the training of physicians comes just prior to starting a residency program. At the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, an opportunity is provided for students to reinforce their clinical nutrition skills and to successfully counsel patients.