Evaluating the effectiveness of parenteral nutrition education for physicians in a tertiary care hospital

Physicians are typically responsible for initiating medical nutrition therapy (MNT), however nutrition education is lacking in medical schools. This study sought to determine if there would be a significant difference in pre and post-test scores of physicians after receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) education. Twenty-five physicians attended a lecture regarding PN and completed a pre and post-test. A paired samples t test showed that there was no statistical difference on the total correct scores (p = .24). A chi-square test showed a significant increase in the number of participants who felt prepared to write a PN prescription and a significant increase in participants' perception of having enough resources to write a PN prescription (p < .000). Major limitations to this study include small sample size, short test, insufficient demographic data, and a high attrition rate. More research is needed to better understand how to provide adequate MNT education for physicians.