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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294365
Title: Assessment of nutrition education among pediatric gastroenterologists: A survey of NASPGHAN members

Author
item LIN, HENRY - Children'S Hospital - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
item KAHANA, DORON - Center For Digestive Health & Nutritional Excellence, Inc
item VOS, MIRIAM - Emory University
item BLACK, DENNIS - University Of Tennessee
item PORT, ZACK - Geffen School Of Medicine
item SHULMAN, ROBERT - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item SCHEIMANN, ANN - Johns Hopkins University School Of Medicine
item MASCARENHAS, MARIA - Children'S Hospital - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Submitted to: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/7/2012
Publication Date: 2/1/2013
Citation: Lin, H.C., Kahana, D., Vos, M., Black, D., Port, Z., Shulman, R., Scheimann, A., Mascarenhas, M.R. 2013. Assessment of nutrition education among pediatric gastroenterologists: A survey of NASPGHAN members. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 56(2):137-144.

Interpretive Summary: Pediatric gastroenterologists are doctors who take care of children with intestinal problems. Because the intestines are so important for nutrition, they also take care of many children who have nutritional issues. We previously surveyed how pediatric gastroenterologists in training receive education about nutrition. In this study, we surveyed how pediatric gastroenterologists who are in clinical practice receive information about nutrition. We identify ways that might improve nutrition education.

Technical Abstract: Pediatric gastroenterology is the only pediatric subspecialty with nutrition as part of its official curriculum and objective; however, pediatric gastroenterology fellows believe that their baseline knowledge in nutrition is suboptimal. The purpose of the present study was to assess the perceived effectiveness of nutrition training among pediatric gastroenterologists, identify areas of need for additional education, and determine the perceived role of the gastroenterologist in obesity management. A survey was sent to members and fellows of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition to assess general nutrition education as well as obesity management and educational needs. A total of 272 responses were received, for an overall response rate of 15.2% (272/1784). Most responders reported having average or above-average knowledge base in all nutritional topics. There was strong interest in additional resources and a continuing medical education (CME) module on several nutrition topics including nutritional requirements in specific gastrointestinal (GI) disease, failure to thrive/growth failure, and parenteral nutrition support, with the format of CME dependent on the topic. There was also a strong interest in additional CME on the management of pediatric obesity (67%), as most responders believed that the management of obesity in children requires subspecialty care. The perceived role of the pediatric gastroenterologist was, however, one of support to treat the GI and hepatic comorbidities of obesity rather than serve as the main provider of comprehensive obesity care. Pediatric gastroenterologists identified gaps in their nutrition knowledge base that may be attributed to the present nutrition education training during fellowship. Multiple topics were identified for additional nutrition education, including obesity management. The nutrition management challenges of today necessitate improved baseline nutrition knowledge and this focus on nutrition should begin at the fellowship level.