NUTRITION CURRICULUM IN MEDICAL-EDUCATION - AN INTEGRATED AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

Background: In 1992 The University of Arizona, College of Medicine was awarded support from the NIH to develop an integrated, comprehensive nutrition curriculum for pre-doctorate education. Historically 35 hr o f nutrition instruction were provided, including 9 of 40 essential nut rition topics identified by the American Society of Clinical Nutrition . Description: To meet the need for an expanded curriculum, course mat erials were revised and new materials were developed to provide 36 of the essential topics and 20 new topics in 75 hours of nutrition educat ion. Evaluation: Change in student nutrition knowledge is currently be ing evaluated. Early analysis supports improvements in scores on a wri tten nutrition examination and the objective structured clinical exami nation. Comparison scores of the same students over time will be avail able in late 1997. Conclusion: Effective curricula which provide appro priate quality and quantity of medical nutrition information can be de veloped within current medical education systems and without the need for a separate nutrition course or a significant increase in curriculu m time.