Nutrition education for medical students: the University of Otago experience

Abstract

Nutrition education for medical students in the University of Otago, New Zealand, has been adapted to comply with the newly introduced system-based teaching. Clinical cases provide the focus for class demonstrations, tutorials, self-directed learning and a limited number of lectures. In the preclinical curriculum nutrition is taught primarily in the Metabolism, Blood, Heart and Circulation, Endocrine and Cancer modules. The concept of nutrient requirements for growth and development and the maintenance of health; the various methods used for assessing dietary intakes and nutritional status as well as nutrition issues relevant to obesity are covered in the Metabolism module. The role of nutritional factors in the aetiology of disease is stressed in the other modules. Emphasis in the clinical curriculum is on the dietary management of some disease states. Students are also given insights into nutrition research and public health aspects of nutrition. This integration of nutrition teaching into the curriculum has been extremely well received by students but is labour intensive.