The perspectives of what curricula is required from doctors with experience in medicine and nutrition, who understand the constraints of both worlds, has not been previously explored.
Without a strong foundation in nutrition education and a clearly defined role, doctors may not have the skillset nor understanding to prioritise nutrition care. This ambiguity in nutrition medical education is reflected in practice, doctors rarely deliver dietary interventions and referral to dietitians is low. Many published studies exploring the role of nutrition education in medicine have been from the perspective of medical students, doctors, dietitians and medicine faculty members. Previous studies have recommended doctors require specific nutrition knowledge to address non-communicable diseases, whilst others emphasise referral skills and teamwork.
Directives for nutrition education vary and the role of doctors in nutrition care remains undefined.
There is a paucity of nutrition accreditation standards for medical curricula, and no consensus on the knowledge and skillset required by doctors for competent nutrition care. Nutrition education in medical curricula is limited. However, medical practitioners can feel ill-equipped to provide this care, due to a lack of nutrition knowledge and skills in providing nutrition advice. ĭoctors are ideally placed to provide nutrition care. In response to the need for more global action on nutrition and all forms of malnutrition, the United Nations declared 2016–2025 as the decade of action on nutrition. Nutrition is essential for human health and wellbeing and associated with social and economic development. This exploratory study suggests that doctors consider that nutrition competent medical graduates require skills in referring to dietitians, an understanding and application of the social determinants of health, and practise applying multidisciplinary and evidence-based nutrition care. Optimising nutrition care through multidisciplinary collaboration and 4. Understanding the interrelatedness of the social determinants of health and nutrition status is key 3. Identifying the role of doctors in nutrition care 2. There were four main themes identified: 1. A purposive sample of 12 medical doctors and students with formal nutrition training across Australia participated in in-depth semi structured interviews. We conducted an exploratory qualitative research study. The aim of this study was to explore the nutrition knowledge, skills and practice required for nutrition-competent medical graduates, and their role in providing nutrition advice and care, from the perspective of doctors with formal nutrition training. Doctors are on the frontline of patient care and in an ideal position to provide nutritional advice, yet can feel ill-equipped to do so.
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