title: Basic nutrition knowledge of recent medical graduates entering a pediatric residency program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses the basic nutritional knowledge of fourth year medical/osteopathic school graduates entering a pediatric residency program and compares the knowledge of the medical students to that of the patients and parents who completed the same survey previously.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical and osteopathic school graduates entering a pediatric residency program completed an 18-question nutrition survey during resident orientation in June of 2011 and 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incoming interns averaged answering 52% of the questions correctly. Interns did better than both groups but the only statistically significant difference was between the interns and the non-eating disorder adolescents and their parents (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incoming residents to a pediatric residency program appear to be deficient in basic nutritional knowledge. With the ever increasing burden of obesity and its associated co-morbidities on society, it is imperative that medical education focuses on preparing physicians to appropriately counsel all populations on proper nutrition.
authors.forename: Marigold
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feinstein
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States