Nutrition professional involvement in medical schools, or lack thereof: Preliminary findings from a descriptive study

摘要

Background/Aims: The lack of nutrition experts is a constraint in integratingmore nutrition in medical curricula. The aim of this study is todetermine the nature of, and attitudes around, Nutrition Professional (NP)involvement within medical schools/programs, compared to Non-NutritionProfessionals (NNPs).Methods: In the absence of information about NP and NNP populations inmedical schools, two online questionnaires (for NPs and NNPs) were emailedto academic and other non-administrative staff within 51 Australian,US and UK medical schools. Members of four dieteticutritionrelatedprofessional associations were notified of the survey. Responses toquantitative elements of questionnaire items were calculated aspercentages.Results: Responses were received from 613 NPs and 516 NNPs, of which193 and 367, respectively, satisfied eligibility criteria for inclusion in thestudy. The proportion of NP and NNP respectively, who were involved inthe following activities are: leadership 11%, 26%; coordination 34%, 47%;curriculum decision making 38%, 51%; teaching in a nutrition subject 74%,18%; clinical training 27%, 47%; research supervision 21%, 52%; and mentoring29%, 55%. Twelve percent of NP as well as NNP participants thoughtthat NP involvement in their medical program was sufficient. NPs andNNPs differed in views about NP involvement in research (86% vs. 74%) andcurriculum development (79% vs. 57%). Key barriers around NP involvementincluded funding, congested curriculum, expertise, accessibility, andperceived importance of nutrition.Conclusions: Results from this group suggest that proportionately less NPs(than NNPs) are involved in non-teaching activities, yet most NPs andNNPs seem to favour increased involvement. Strategies to address associatedbarriers warrant further investigation.