Research

Dr. Jo Ann Carson, Co-Primary Investigator, has focused her research interest in the development and evaluation of innovative educational strategies for adding nutrition education to a medical school curriculum. Computer-based case studies featuring the nutritional therapy of cardiovascular disease and gestational diabetes have been implemented into the curriculum. Medical students are taught basic interviewing and assessment skills for determining a patients nutritional status and need for further referal to a registered dietitian.

The impact of the incorporation of nutrition education strategies is measured by the assessment of:

• nutrition knowledge
• attitudes regarding nutrition as a therapy
• self-efficacy in providing nutritional information to patients and appropriate referral to a registered dietitian
• student skills measured by objective structured clinical exams
• care practices through chart audits