P209 Culinary Medicine Program Improves Physician Resident's Nutrition Knowledge and Communication Skills

To evaluate the efficacy of a culinary medicine interactive class for physician residents.Translating current nutritional guidelines into practical advice for patients is imperative in healthcare. However, 71% of the medical schools across the country do not provide the suggested benchmark of 25 hours of nutrition education suggested by the National Academy of Sciences.Physician residents, MD's who have completed and received their medical degree requirements and are in the University of Central Florida residency program, were participants in a culinary medicine session that they were asked to evaluate for efficacy.In an effort to improve the quality and quantity of nutrition education for physicians, a graduate medical education half day was set aside for a culinary medicine session. In phase I of the session, participants were asked to read peer reviewed nutrition research articles available on-line. Phase II consisted of case studies and a discussion of resident physicians’ confidence in their nutrition knowledge and communication skills. Phase III was a culinary session where participants and were given ingredients to prepare a healthy meal and then asked to make a presentation with nutrition recommendations to the group.The physician residents were asked to answer pre- and post surveys asking their opinion on the efficacy of the program.On the pre-session survey, 76% of physician residents reported they would like to have additional nutrition education. On the post-survey, participant's reported the culinary medicine session did improve their nutrition knowledge and communication skills.This program evaluation gives evidence suggesting culinary medicine sessions for physician residents can provide additional training in nutrition and the opportunity to explore ways to translate important nutrition guidelines to patients.None.