Perceptions of Gulf Medical University medical graduates regarding nutrition education in the undergraduate medical curriculum

ABSTRACT

To assess perceptions of GMU medical graduates nutrition education in the undergraduate medical curriculum. 75 GMU medical graduates [years of graduation 2005-2009] were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey in May 2012. The questionnaire was designed with the help of medical education experts, faculty involved in nutrition education and IT experts, validated and pilot-tested. Data was collected in MS Excel and results expressed as percentages. 42 medical graduates responded to the survey. 62% were females, 11 are working in the UAE while others are based in other countries including India, USA, UK and other GCC countries. 31% were working as general physicians while the rest were specialists/ specializing in various medical disciplines. The respondents mentioned receiving nutrition-related instruction in the pre-clinical years [80%] and clinical years [50%]. Courses in which Nutrition-related topics were learnt were identified as Community Medicine [59%], Biochemistry [47%], Physiology [23.5%], Pediatrics [35%] and Internal Medicine [29%]. The main teaching- learning methods adopted were lectures and case-based discussions. Nutrition education for the doctors was perceived as "very important" by 73.8% and "fairly important" by 23.8% of the respondents. 39% mentioned using nutrition-related knowledge daily. However 73.5% felt they had not received adequate nutrition instruction in relation to their past or present professional work. Areas requiring more instruction were identified as Clinical Nutrition [73%], Nutrition in primary case settings [57%] and Evidence-based nutrition [50%]. GMU medical graduates perceive Nutrition education to be very important for doctors and feel that more nutrition education is needed in the undergraduate medical curriculum, especially in the areas of clinical nutrition, nutrition in primary care settings and evidence-based nutrition