Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies
Abstract Background The provision of nutrition care by doctors is important in promoting healthy dietary habits, and such interventions can lead to reductions in disease morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. However, medical students and doctors report inadequate nutrition education and preparedn...
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doaj-580af313e6564fa09ba25857a1d91b852020-11-25T02:02:26ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202018-02-0118111110.1186/s12909-018-1130-5Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategiesVictor Mogre0Fred C. J. Stevens1Paul A. Aryee2Anthony Amalba3Albert J. J. A. Scherpbier4Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development StudiesSchool of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht UniversityDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development StudiesDepartment of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development StudiesSchool of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht UniversityAbstract Background The provision of nutrition care by doctors is important in promoting healthy dietary habits, and such interventions can lead to reductions in disease morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. However, medical students and doctors report inadequate nutrition education and preparedness during their training at school. Previous studies investigating the inadequacy of nutrition education have not sufficiently evaluated the perspectives of students. In this study, students’ perspectives on doctors’ role in nutrition care, perceived barriers, and strategies to improve nutrition educational experiences are explored. Methods A total of 23 undergraduate clinical level medical students at the 5th to final year in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University for Development Studies in Ghana were purposefully selected to participate in semi-structured individual interviews. Students expressed their opinions and experiences regarding the inadequacy of nutrition education in the curriculum. Each interview was audio-recorded and later transcribed verbatim. Using the constant comparison method, key themes were identified from the data and analysis was done simultaneously with data collection. Results Students opined that doctors have an important role to play in providing nutrition care to their patients. However, they felt their nutrition education was inadequate due to lack of priority for nutrition education, lack of faculty to provide nutrition education, poor application of nutrition science to clinical practice and poor collaboration with nutrition professionals. Students opined that their nutrition educational experiences will be improved if the following strategies were implemented: adoption of innovative teaching and learning strategies, early and comprehensive incorporation of nutrition as a theme throughout the curriculum, increasing awareness on the importance of nutrition education, reviewing and revision of the curriculum to incorporate nutrition, and involving nutrition/dietician specialists in medical education. Conclusion Though students considered nutrition care as an important role for doctors they felt incapacitated by non-prioritisation of nutrition education, lack of faculty for teaching of nutrition education, poor application of nutrition science and poor collaboration with nutrition professionals. Incorporation of nutrition as a theme in medical education, improving collaboration, advocacy and creating enabling environments for nutrition education could address some of the barriers to nutrition education.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-018-1130-5Nutrition educationMedical studentsBarriersStrategiesCurriculumQualitative research |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Victor Mogre Fred C. J. Stevens Paul A. Aryee Anthony Amalba Albert J. J. A. Scherpbier |
spellingShingle |
Victor Mogre Fred C. J. Stevens Paul A. Aryee Anthony Amalba Albert J. J. A. Scherpbier Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies BMC Medical Education Nutrition education Medical students Barriers Strategies Curriculum Qualitative research |
author_facet |
Victor Mogre Fred C. J. Stevens Paul A. Aryee Anthony Amalba Albert J. J. A. Scherpbier |
author_sort |
Victor Mogre |
title |
Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies |
title_short |
Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies |
title_full |
Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies |
title_fullStr |
Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies |
title_full_unstemmed |
Why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies |
title_sort |
why nutrition education is inadequate in the medical curriculum: a qualitative study of students’ perspectives on barriers and strategies |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Medical Education |
issn |
1472-6920 |
publishDate |
2018-02-01 |
description |
Abstract Background The provision of nutrition care by doctors is important in promoting healthy dietary habits, and such interventions can lead to reductions in disease morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. However, medical students and doctors report inadequate nutrition education and preparedness during their training at school. Previous studies investigating the inadequacy of nutrition education have not sufficiently evaluated the perspectives of students. In this study, students’ perspectives on doctors’ role in nutrition care, perceived barriers, and strategies to improve nutrition educational experiences are explored. Methods A total of 23 undergraduate clinical level medical students at the 5th to final year in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University for Development Studies in Ghana were purposefully selected to participate in semi-structured individual interviews. Students expressed their opinions and experiences regarding the inadequacy of nutrition education in the curriculum. Each interview was audio-recorded and later transcribed verbatim. Using the constant comparison method, key themes were identified from the data and analysis was done simultaneously with data collection. Results Students opined that doctors have an important role to play in providing nutrition care to their patients. However, they felt their nutrition education was inadequate due to lack of priority for nutrition education, lack of faculty to provide nutrition education, poor application of nutrition science to clinical practice and poor collaboration with nutrition professionals. Students opined that their nutrition educational experiences will be improved if the following strategies were implemented: adoption of innovative teaching and learning strategies, early and comprehensive incorporation of nutrition as a theme throughout the curriculum, increasing awareness on the importance of nutrition education, reviewing and revision of the curriculum to incorporate nutrition, and involving nutrition/dietician specialists in medical education. Conclusion Though students considered nutrition care as an important role for doctors they felt incapacitated by non-prioritisation of nutrition education, lack of faculty for teaching of nutrition education, poor application of nutrition science and poor collaboration with nutrition professionals. Incorporation of nutrition as a theme in medical education, improving collaboration, advocacy and creating enabling environments for nutrition education could address some of the barriers to nutrition education. |
topic |
Nutrition education Medical students Barriers Strategies Curriculum Qualitative research |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-018-1130-5 |
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