Physician Perspectives on Nutrition Counseling and Nutrition Focused Continuing Medical Education in Texas

Authors

Keywords:

health education, nutrition, health research

Abstract

To assess Texas physician nutrition counseling practices and interest in nutrition continuing education opportunities that would enhance patient care. A simple online survey was developed, validated then randomly distributed to physicians across Texas between May 2015 and August 2015. Participants (n=54) completed the survey regarding demographics, incorporation of nutrition with patient care, and nutrition-related continuing education opportunities. Physicians across Texas overwhelmingly reported insufficient incorporation of nutrition counseling into their practice and were in favor of additional continuing medical education (CME) opportunities focused on nutrition. Our results showed 89% of physicians care for patients who require nutrition counseling “Sometimes” or “Usually/Always”. However only 15% feel highly confident to discuss nutrition with patients. A majority (81%) of physicians reported increased likelihood to participate in webinars delivering research-based nutrition information due to their lack of nutrition training. Nutrition CME opportunities post-medical school are limited. To address this shortcoming, and to enhance physician confidence and ability to incorporate nutrition information when interacting with patients, CME courses focused on nutrition must be more readily available. Our findings indicate that Texas physicians recognize the need for nutrition CME opportunities to add value to their practices, and seek such learning opportunities.

Author Biography

Kristen Hicks, Texas A&M University

Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences

References

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education in Gastroenterology ( Internal Medicine ). 2013:1-34.

Adams KM, Kohlmeier M, Zeisel SH. (2010) Nutrition education in U.S. medical schools: latest update of a national survey. Acad. Med, 85(9):1537-1542. doi:10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181eab71b.

Bleich SN, Bennett WL, Gudzune K a, Cooper L a. National survey of US primary care physicians’ perspectives about causes of obesity and solutions to improve care.(2012) BMJ Open, 2(6):1-9. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001871.

FastStats - Leading Causes of Death. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm. Accessed September 9, 2015.

Foster GD, Wadden TA, Makris AP, et al. (2003) Primary care physicians’ attitudes about obesity and its treatment. Obes. Res, 11(10):1168-77. doi:10.1038/oby.2003.161.

Frank E, Segura C, Shen H, Oberg E. (2010) Predictors of Canadian physicians’ prevention counseling practices. Can. J. Public Heal, 101(5):390-395. doi:10.2307/41995502.

Halsted, C. H. (1998). Clinical nutrition education-relevance and role models. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 67(2), 192-196.

Kiraly LN, McClave SA, Neel D, Evans DC, Martindale RG, Hurt RT. (2014) Physician Nutrition Education. Nutr. Clin. Pract,29(3):332-337. doi:10.1177/0884533614525212.

Kris-Etherton PM, Akabas SR, Douglas P, et al. (2015) Nutrition competencies in health professionals’ education and training: a new paradigm. Adv. Nutr, 6(1):83-7. doi:10.3945/an.114.006734.

Kris-Etherton PM, Pratt C a, Saltzman E, Van Horn L. (2014) Introduction to Nutrition Education in Training Medical and Other Health Care Professionals. Am. J. Clin. Nutr, 99(Suppl):1151S-1152S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.073494.Am.

Kushner, R. F. (1995). Barriers to providing nutrition counseling by physicians: a survey of primary care practitioners. Preventive medicine, 24(6), 546-552. doi:10.1177/0884533610380057

Nutrition and Weight Status | Healthy People 2020.

Nutrition and You: Trends 2011. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.eatright.org/nutritiontrends/

Smith S, Seeholzer EL, Gullett H, et al. (2015) Primary care residents ’ knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and perceived professional norms regarding obesity, nutrition, and physical activity counseling. J Grad Med Educ, (10):388-394. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-14-00710.1.

Spencer EH, Frank E, Elon LK, Hertzberg VS, Serdula MK, Galuska DA. (2006) Predictors of nutrition counseling behaviors and attitudes in US medical students. Am. J. Clin. Nutr, 84(3):655-62.

Sussman AL, Williams RL, Leverence R, Gloyd PW, Crabtree BF. (2008) Self determination theory and preventive care delivery: a Research Involving Outpatient Settings Network (RIOS Net) study. J. Am. Board Fam. Med, 21(4):282-92. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2008.04.070159.

Vetter ML, Herring SJ, Sood M, Shah NR, Kalet AL. (2008) What do resident physicians know about nutrition? An evaluation of attitudes, self-perceived proficiency and knowledge. J. Am. Coll. Nutr, 27(2):287-298. doi:27/2/287.

Downloads

Published

2016-10-30

Issue

Section

Original Research