Abstract:
This project will develop and integrate a cardiovascular nutrition
curriculum throughout the undergraduate and graduate education
of physicians at the University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, as well
as provide resources for educating physician assistant and
dietetic students in cardiovascular nutrition.
The focus of the curriculum will be consistent with use of
national guidelines, such as guidelines from the National
Cholesterol Education Program and the Joint
National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and
Treatment of High Blood Pressure. The curriculum will
be developed and implemented through a collaborative effort
of faculty responsible for teaching at three levels: the first
two years of basic sciences, the second two years of clinical
sciences, and the primary care residencies.
Support materials in innovative formats, such as computer
assisted instruction, problem based learning cases and standardized
patients, will be developed. Outcome evaluation of the project
will include testing of knowledge via multiple choice questions
and measuring of behaviors through chart audits and objective
structured clinical examination stations. Process evaluation
will document the steps which contributed to integration of
nutrition into the curriculum.
The long term goal is to produce graduates who routinely address
nutrition and exercise for cardiovascular health with their
patients.
The project
is funded by the National
Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and will emphasize
use of nutrition to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.
