FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENTS KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES ABOUT DRUG-NUTRIENTINTERACTIONS

Objective: The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organiz ations (JCAHO) requires that health professionals recognize the import ance of drug-nutrient interactions and educate patients to prevent adv erse effects. Drug-nutrient interactions are an important issue in med ical practice, but it is not clear how or if physicians are trained in this issue. Methods: This investigation was a needs assessment that e xamined attitudes and knowledge about drug-nutrient interactions that was examined in a national sample of 834 family medicine residents in 56 residency programs. Results: Most reported they had little or no fo rmal training in drug-nutrient interactions in medical school (83%) or residency (80%). However, 79% believed it was the physician's respons ibility to inform patients about drug-nutrient interactions, although many thought pharmacists (75%) and dietitians (66%) share this respons ibility. Overall, residents correctly answered 61% +/- 19 of fourteen drug-nutrient interaction knowledge items. There was a slight increase in drug-nutrient knowledge as year of residency increased. Conclusion s: Physicians' knowledge of drug-nutrient interactions may be improved by including nutrition education in the topics taught by physicians, nutritionists, and pharmacists using several educational strategies. N utrition educators in particular can play a role in curriculum develop ment about drug-nutrient interactions by developing, refining, and eva luating materials and educational tools. Nutrition educators need to p rovide this information in academic settings for the training of all h ealth professionals as well as in patient education settings such as h ospitals and public health clinics.