Leveraging a Podcast Series for Nutrition Education in Medical Curriculum

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2601

Keywords:

Nutrition, Culinary medicine, Medical education, Podcast education, Survey analysis , Nutrition Education , Podcast Series, Medical Curriculum , Culinary Medicine, New York Medical , College (NYMC) Malnutrition, Obesity , Underfed Population, Micronutrients , Preclinical Curriculum, Survey Responses , Baseline Knowledge, Diet Management , Eating Disorders

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is a worldwide problem. Despite the paradoxical global prevalence of both an obese and underfed population, physicians have historically fallen short in their efforts to combat this epidemic. Unfortunately, medical education has only recently prioritized nutrition curriculum, and its incorporation has been slow. The Culinary Medicine Interest Group (CMIG) at New York Medical College (NYMC) aims to expand access to nutrition education in medical school.

Methods: The CMIG podcast was conceived as an adjunct to the preclinical curriculum. Podcasts were distributed via the NYMC learning-management system in parallel with pre-clinical curriculum and made widely available via Spotify, YouTube, and Google Podcasts. A pre-podcast survey was conducted to establish a baseline of nutrition knowledge in the NYMC student population, and a post-podcast survey was also distributed.

Results: During 2022-2023, twelve episodes covering various nutrition-related subspecialty topics were released. We received 76 pre-podcast survey responses which made the need for nutrition curriculum clear: 37% reported no experience with nutrition, less than half took coursework that covered nutrition, 59% were uncomfortable discussing eating disorders, and only 21.5% reported feeling comfortable discussing diet in relation to menopause.  Post-podcast survey responses could not be analyzed due to low participation.

Conclusion: Limited survey responses hinder conclusions about the podcast's potential impact; we believe this is related to the lack of value conferred upon content beyond the scope of mandated material. Nevertheless, baseline data support the need for more nutrition curriculum; we present a novel approach to expanding access to nutrition curriculum in medical education.

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Author Biographies

Francesco Ciuffo, BS. Fourth-year medical student, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

 

 

Rachel Thommen, MD. 2024 graduate, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

 

 

References

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It features a prominent microphone at the center, symbolizing the podcast medium, surrounded by various icons related to nutrition and health, such as fruits, vegetables, a heart, and medical symbols. The background includes elements like a stethoscope and medical documents, emphasizing the educational and medical focus of the podcast series.

Published

2024-06-11 — Updated on 2024-07-09

How to Cite

Vellek, J., Rosen, J., Hecht, G., Ciuffo, F., Thommen, R., & Petersen, K. H. (2024). Leveraging a Podcast Series for Nutrition Education in Medical Curriculum. International Journal of Medical Students, 12(2), 169–177. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2024.2601

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