Experts Propose Nutrition Competencies for US Medical Education
TL/DR –
A panel of medical and nutrition experts has recommended 36 competencies to help address a concern that many U.S. physicians are not trained to give advice on nutrition and food choices. The competencies, which have been proposed in response to a U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan resolution calling for better education on nutrition and diet for physicians, cover areas such as foundational nutritional knowledge, assessment and diagnosis, and communication skills. The team of researchers identified potential gaps in the recommended competencies, including discussions around anti-obesity drugs and the use of artificial intelligence to provide practical advice on nutrition.
Call for Nutrition Competency in U.S. Medical Education by Experts
An expert panel of medical and nutrition professionals have proposed a set of 36 recommended nutrition competencies for U.S. medical students and physician trainees. The move aims to address concerns about physicians’ unpreparedness to counsel patients on nutrition and diet due to a gap in their training.
This initiative follows a bipartisan resolution (H. Res. 1118) by the U.S. House of Representatives, advocating for comprehensive nutrition and diet education for physicians and healthcare professionals. The resolution was spurred by concerns about rising diet-related disorders and the annual Medicare costs of $800 billion in 2019.
The study’s lead author, David Eisenberg, underscored the concerning lack of nationally required nutrition competencies in medical education. This is particularly distressing considering the growing prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases and their escalating costs.
The research team, Eisenberg and his associates at Tufts University and UK-based consultancy Sprink Ltd., drew up a list of 354 nutrition competencies from academic literature. They then formed an expert panel of 37 professionals from various health-related fields to evaluate and rank the competencies.
Post four rounds of analysis, the researchers finalized 36 recommended nutrition competencies in six categories. These include foundational nutritional knowledge, assessment and diagnosis, communication skills, public health, collaborative support and treatment, and referral indicators.
Nearly 97% of panelists advocated for formal nutrition testing on licensing and certification exams for aspiring physicians. Other key findings included:
- 95% agreement that institutions should disclose their teachings related to nutrition competencies.
- 92% consensus on student surveys to evaluate competency and confidence in nutrition.
- 73% suggested a competency related to the environmental impact of food choices.
While the proposed competencies address H. Res. 1118, the research team also identified 12 possible gaps not addressed in the recommended competencies. These topics include discussing anti-obesity drugs with patients and using artificial intelligence responsibly for giving practical dietary advice.
Eisenberg underscores the significant potential of these competencies to enhance public health and improve planetary health. While this study’s international applicability may be limited due to its U.S.-centric panel, the consensus-building approach can inform similar global efforts to enrich nutrition competency in medical education.
The study’s funding was provided by the Vitamix Foundation, the David R. and Margaret C. Clare Foundation, the Shaich Family Foundation, and the Ardmore Institute of Health and was administered by the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative.
For more information related to this study, visit the Harvard Chan School website.
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