title: Integrating nutrition education into the cardiovascular curriculum changes eating habits of second-year medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Survey of medical curricula continues to show that nutrition education is not universally adequate. One measure of nutritional educational competence is a positive change in student eating habits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate whether integrating nutrition education within the second-year cardiovascular course for medical students, using the "Rate Your Plate" (RYP) questionnaire, coupled with knowledge of student personal 30-year risk of a cardiovascular event was useful in changing students' eating behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two students completed an unpublished 24-item questionnaire (modified-RYP) about their eating habits in the spring of their first year. The same students then completed the questionnaire in the spring of their second year. Paired t test was used to analyze the difference in RYP scores. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated for the Framingham 30-year cardiovascular event risk and change in RYP score to examine whether risk knowledge may have changed eating habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores at baseline and 1 year later were 57.19 and 58.97, respectively (paired t test, P < .01). Correlation coefficient between 30-year relative risk, adjusted for family history, and change in RYP score was -0.322.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although medical students were eating healthy at baseline, integration of nutrition education within the second-year cardiovascular medical curriculum was associated with improved heart healthy eating habits. Because student attitudes about prevention counseling are influenced by personal eating habits, this suggests that students with a more healthy diet will be more likely to recommend the same for their patients.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Lipid Clinic, Heart and Vascular Institute, College of Medicine, Penn State University, 500 University Drive, H047, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. Electronic address: rzelis@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zelis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004501:Education, Medical; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D013337:Students, Medical
keywords: Eating habits; Medical curriculum; Nutrition education; Personal cardiovascular risk; Rate Your Plate questionnaire