Is More Nutrition Education Needed in the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum? Perceptions of graduates from a medical university in the United Arab Emirates
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2014, Vol 14, Issue 4
Abstract
Objectives: Te rise in lifestyle diseases has resulted in primary physicians advising more patients on the benefts of nutritional modifcations. However, nutrition education has remained more or less unchanged in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Tis study aimed to assess the perceptions of medical graduates regarding nutrition education in their undergraduate curriculum. Methods: A total of 125 medical graduates from the Gulf Medical University in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey from May to October 2012. Te validated pilot-tested questionnaire was designed to assess perceptions regarding nutrition education in the undergraduate medical curriculum. Results: A total of 65 medical graduates responded to the survey, of which 55% were female. Of the respondents, 32% were general physicians and 68% were specialists in various disciplines. Nutrition education was perceived to be very important by 80% of the respondents; however, 78.5% felt that they had not received adequate instruction in this feld during their undergraduate medical curriculum. Te major areas of defcit identifed were in the categories of clinical nutrition, nutrition in primary care and evidence-based nutrition. Conclusion: In this study, Gulf Medical University graduates perceived a need for more nutrition-related instruction in their undergraduate medical curriculum. Te areas of defcit identifed in this study could help in future curricular improvements.
Authors and Affiliations
Kadayam G. Gomathi| Departments of Biochemistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Syed I. Shehnaz| Departments of Pharmacology, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Nelofer Khan| Departments of Biochemistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
Keywords
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