(P23-006-24) Are Integrative Medicine Graduates Integrating Diet and Nutrition Into Their Practice? An Evaluation of the GW Integrative Medicine Programs

Objectives: The White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities recently stated a national need to educate health care professionals on how to help their patients make healthy food choices. The George Washington University Integrative Medicine Programs (INTM) have a new concentration to provide nutrition training to health care professionals plus nutrition courses for all INTM learners. We evaluated how and to what extent INTM graduates implement their nutrition training after graduation and if this varies by nutrition credit hours.

Methods: We conducted an online quantitative survey of 26 graduates of INTM to assess their practice area, frequency of nutrition counseling with patients, barriers to providing nutrition education, and level/type of provider self-care. Graduates’ statements of purpose from their applications were qualitatively analyzed to explore initial motivation to enter the field.

Results: Almost all graduates directly interact with patients (96%). More than half (56%) work in a setting that covers preventive care, and 47% counsel their patients on diet/nutrition at every visit. All graduates report self-care is very or extremely important and most feel it impacts the quality of care they provide (78%). Intellectual and physical self-care were most frequently practiced daily. Time and reimbursement were extreme barriers to discussing diet/nutrition with patients. Reasons for applying to INTM include a desire to “bridge the gap” between allopathic and complementary medicine, improve the health of local communities, and personal health experiences.

Conclusions: The importance of providing adequate nutrition training to health care professionals cannot be overstated. INTM graduates are practicing nutrition care with their patients after graduation with implications for future providers.

Funding Sources: None