Nutrition concepts essential in the education of the medical student

To identify nutrition concepts essential to the education of medical students and to identify where in the medical school curriculum such concepts should be taught, questionnaires were mailed to a stratified random sample of 800 physicians and 165 medical nutrition educators. Respondents assessed 23 nutrition concepts to be essential. Years 1 and 2 of the medical school curriculum were deemed appropriate for teaching biochemically- and physiologically-oriented nutrition concepts. Year 2 was also considered appropriate for teaching nutrition in relation to disease entities. The clinical training portion was assessed appropriate for teaching patient management-oriented nutrition concepts. All concepts should be applicable to patient care. Respondents indicated that medical students do not receive nutrition education in medical school curricula adequate for medical practice. Results of this study should be used to promote integration of nutrition into medical curricula