(P26-008-24) Understanding the Role of Nutrition in Musculoskeletal Healing: Assessing Patient and Physician Perceptions in an Urban Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic

Objectives: Patients' understanding of nutrition's contribution to healing and physicians' comfort and knowledge in counseling patients is often overlooked. This study aims to assess patients' understanding of nutrition's role in healing and physicians' comfort and knowledge in counseling patients.

Methods: A 1-page survey was distributed to adult patients and physicians at the Detroit Medical Center Orthopedics and Sports Medicine clinics, assessing current nutritional status, dietary behaviors, benefits of counseling, and comfort/knowledge in nutrition education.

Results: A total of 87 patients and 17 medical providers completed the study. Most patients attended college (23 % Bachelor, 41% Associate/some college, 13% Graduate). Only 18% had a high school/GED diploma. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.01) between the level of education and if the patients considered that nutrition can improve their recovery. In addition, 61 % of patients would like to be consulted in nutrition, and 68% considered that nutrition can enhance their recovery. Most patients rated their nutritional intake as “somewhat healthy” (47%) and “healthy”(38%), while they believed that sugar, salt, and processed food are the least important for health. Most of providers (53%) responded that they ask the patients about their diet “sometimes”, 59% “never” counsel their patients on customized diets, and 59% feel “somewhat qualified” to counsel their patients in nutrition. With respect to health, recovery and athletic performance, 41% of providers responded that they talk about the importance of nutrition only “sometimes”. Poor nutrition was found to be the culprit of delayed wound healing and increased postoperative complications by 82% and 65%, respectively of respondents. Overall, most providers believed that nutritional counseling would be beneficial and that the healthcare costs will be highly reduced, despite that 65% of the providers acknowledged that they spend an average of only 1-5 minutes discussing the role of nutrition in healing.

Conclusions: Understanding the role of nutrition in musculoskeletal healing is crucial for patients' overall health and well-being. This study may have implications for improving patient outcomes, reducing postoperative complications, and enhancing patient satisfaction scores in Orthopedic and Sports Medicine clinics.

Funding Sources: None