Physicians’ Dietary Knowledge, Attitudes, and Counseling Practices: The Experience of a Single Health Care Center at Changing the Landscape for Dietary Education

TLDR

Cardiovascular disease outcomes can be improved by lifestyle changes, yet medical education rarely emphasizes nutrition. The study aims to enhance nutrition training for physicians so they are better prepared to counsel patients on lifestyle interventions. An online survey of NYU Langone medical staff assessed nutrition knowledge and attitudes, and the results informed a CME conference designed to boost nutrition counseling skills. Among 248 respondents, only 13.5 % felt prepared to discuss nutrition, but 78.4 % wanted more training; after the CME conference, participants reported increased knowledge and a shift toward prescribing Mediterranean or plant‑based diets, demonstrating the conference’s effectiveness.

Abstract

Morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease can be significantly modified through lifestyle interventions, yet there is little emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle in medical education. Improving nutrition education for future physicians would likely lead to improved preparedness to counsel patients on lifestyle interventions. An online anonymous survey of medical residents, cardiology fellows, and faculty in Internal Medicine and Cardiology was conducted at New York University Langone Health assessing basic nutritional knowledge, self-reported attitudes and practices. A total of 248 physicians responded (26.7% response rate). Nutrition knowledge was fair, but few (13.5%) felt adequately trained to discuss nutrition with patients. A majority (78.4%) agreed that additional training in nutrition would allow them to provide better clinical care. Based on survey responses, a dedicated continuing medical education (CME) conference was developed to improve knowledge and lifestyle counseling skills of healthcare providers. In postconference evaluations, attendees reported improved knowledge of evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Most noted that they would prescribe a Mediterranean or plant-based diet and would make changes to their practice based on the conference. An annual CME conference on diet and lifestyle can effectively help interested providers overcome barriers to lifestyle change in clinical practice through improved nutrition knowledge.