P592 - FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: EVALUATING INTERN DOCTORS’ PREPAREDNESS IN MANAGING MALNUTRITION IN TÜRKIYE

P592

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: EVALUATING INTERN DOCTORS’ PREPAREDNESS IN MANAGING MALNUTRITION IN TÜRKIYE

K. Cingar Alpay^1,*, D. Ozata¹, A. Doventas¹, D. S. Erdincler¹

¹Department of Geriatrics, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Türkiye

Rationale: Nutrition education is vital for healthcare professionals, including medical students. Yet, it remains limited and poorly integrated into clinical practice. This study aims to assess final-year medical students’ knowledge of nutrition and malnutrition, their clinical application, and their approach to nutritional support.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 90 final-year medical students at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. Data were collected through a 20-item online questionnaire covering four domains: Education and Awareness, Clinical Practice, Diagnosis and Treatment of Malnutrition, and Practical Experience. Responses were analyzed using percentage distributions.

Results: Education and Awareness: 66.7% reported moderate training on nutrition; 50% found malnutrition insufficiently covered. 63% rarely updated their knowledge, and the same proportion emphasized the need for more practical training.
Clinical Practice: 50% had difficulty identifying malnutrition; 60% would consult a dietitian. Half used their nutrition knowledge occasionally, and 58% gained most of it during internship.
Diagnosis and Treatment: 46.7% lacked confidence in diagnosing malnutrition; only 20% used the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).
Practical Experience: 53% had no hands-on experience with malnutrition cases.

Conclusion: There are significant gaps in intern doctors’ knowledge and skills in identifying and managing malnutrition. The limited use of assessment tools and the demand for practical training indicate the need to strengthen nutrition education in medical curricula to improve clinical competency. A more hands-on, interdisciplinary approach could help bridge this gap.

References: -Cuerda C, et al. Nutrition education in medical schools (NEMS): An ESPEN position paper. Clin Nutr. 2019;38(3):969–974. -Xie JY, et al. Nutrition education in core medical curricula: a call to action. Future Healthc J. 2021;8(1):19–21.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared