Current Status of Nutrition Training in Graduate Medical Education From a Survey of Residency Program Directors: A Formal Nutrition Education Course is Necessary

-

Daley BJ, Cherry-Bukowiec J, Van Way III CW, et al. Current status of nutrition training in graduate medical education from a survery of residency program directors: A formal nutrition education course is necessary. J parenter Enteral Nut. 2015;XX(X):1-5.

 

            Among dietitians it is sometimes a sore subject as to whether or not they are allowed to prescribe diet orders. It changes from state to state and from hospital to hospital. The questions arise as to who is more knowledgeable in regard to diets and if doctors are prescribing diet orders then what is the point of clinical dietetics? Well, this article surveyed graduate medical education facilities to determine what level of nutrition education was being giving. Of the 72 residencies programs that responded only 19(26.4%) had a formal course in nutrition, and of these 19 institutions only 16 required that the courses be taken. The statistics go on to show that not only are nutrition classes not being given, when they are they are typically not mandatory, and even when they are given they are not effectively educating on clinical dietetics.

            This article goes on to encourage the education of physicians in nutrition at the undergrad and graduate level. They realistically state that getting a greater number of physician educators to focus on nutrition is unlikely.

            The questions really are, why are they still the ones making nutrition related decisions in clinical settings and why increase their scoop when there is an ENTIRE field of healthcare related to nutrition? This isn’t the first study to purport that physicians are undereducated in regard to nutrition and likely won’t be the last. Instead of insisting on physicians being required to get even more education, why not shift the responsibility to those who have gone to school and been trained for the sole purpose of managing food intake in relation to disease?

Ellsworth

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you struggle with pre and post exercise nutrition?

-
Image
What should i eat before and after a workout? First things first…carbohydrates, proteins and fats are important for the body before  and after exercise. Exercising muscle preferentially uses carbohydrates from stored glycogen, but fats are also an important fuel source for energy production during exercise. Fats and carbohydrates are the two major fuel sources during exercise. Fats must be translocated and broken down from their storage form before they are used. Typically there is enough carbohydrate stored as muscle glycogen for exercise but as muscle glycogen stores decline, the skeletal muscle will then use some amino acids (basic components of all protein). More specifically, the amino acid leucine is used for energy.              It is important to consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates exercise to delay fatigue and minimize gastrointestinal distress. It is also important to consume enough fluids to prev...
Read more

Child Malnutrition

-
New approach to childhood malnutrition may reduce relapses, deaths http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150211124024.htm               Moderate acute malnutrition is experienced by 35 million children worldwide. A new study led by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has suggested that feeding children until they have met target measures of arm circumference and weight may be more important than a set 12 week feeding time. However, researchers have found that the current targets, set by the World Health Organization (WHO) may not be sufficient and raising these targets slightly could significantly reduce the risk of relapse in malnourished children; a condition that has a 37% relapse rate. The study took place in rural Malawi and was comprised of 2,349 moderately malnourished children aged 6 months to 5 years old. Children were evaluated 12 months after treatment; 1,967 rec...
Read more

Harvest of the Month

-
Image
Harvest of the Month  August – Corn Good source of  fiber Carbohydrate source for energy Antioxidants Contains vitamins and minerals ½ cup or 1 ear = 80 calories   http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=90 September – Watermelon High in vitamin A and vitamin C Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory support 1 cup cubed = 46 calories http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31 October – Apples High in fiber Vitamin C Abundant amount of antioxidants 1 medium = 95 calories  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=15 November – Squash and Pumpkin High in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B2, B3 & B6 Many minerals  High in fiber Multiple antioxidant properties  1 cup = 76 calories  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=63 Decembe...
Read more