Clinical Application of Nutrition Education in Interns of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, 2012

Nutrition has an essential role in health promotion. In some diseases it has a serious impact on disease control. This effect implies the need to have basic knowledge about nutrition in health care providers. We assessed viewpoints of interns in Golestan University of Medical Sciences toward clinical application of nutrition education. This descriptive study was conducted on all (n=55) interns who spent the last academic year (September-December2012). Research measurement was a questionnaire (its validity and reliability was evaluated in previous studies) consisting of demographic and questions about proportion of time and existing chapters with clinical needs، their ability to provide counseling and need to adding proposed new chapters. A total of 46 questionnaires were returned. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Among the 46 interns (37females،mean age25. 3±1)، application of nutrition education in clinical section in58. 7% was evaluated “poor and very poor”، 15. 2% of them considered “good” in their ability to assess patient’s nutritional status and 8. 7% in their ability to nutritional counseling. Over all 8. 7%assessed usefulness of their nutritional counseling advice “good and very good.” 82. 6% agreed with providing course on specific nutrition topics. All of them remarked the need for education in medical nutrition therapy in cardiovascular and renal diseases، 97. 6%in diabetes and post surgical situations and 95. 2%in infectious diseases. Based on these data، current curricular in medical schools is not adequate and need to revise. Our participantsidentified gaps in their nutrition knowledge and their need during clinical problems. We proposed a nutrition education program based on reported essential topics to improve their nutritional skills in clinic. By upgrading consultation skills in general practitioners، they can work better in future.