Differences in the nutritional content taught across undergraduate musculoskeletal therapy programme curricula: a questionnaire study.
Item
- Title
- Differences in the nutritional content taught across undergraduate musculoskeletal therapy programme curricula: a questionnaire study.
- Author(s)
- Iorio, T
- Abstract
- Background: Curriculum comparisons are an effective way of gauging whether learning outcomes are being met across institutions. This is to ensure guidelines are constantly being reviewed and updated. Attention is needed on assessing whether there is a difference in the nutritional content being taught across the MSK curricula. This is important as diet plays a central role in the rise of chronic inflammatory disorders. Dietary management becomes increasingly a concern across all individuals within the primary healthcare sector due to the nutritional negligence of medical doctors as a result of poor education. Objectives: To explore differences in nutritional content taught across various undergraduate MSK therapy curricula in the UK and to assess the characteristic differences between the courses reporting variable outcomes. Design: Cross-sectional online questionnaire. Method: The UCAS database was searched for course programme leaders of all chiropractic, osteopathic, physiotherapy and sport therapy courses. A 39-item questionnaire was developed and administered via email using an embedded hyperlink. Questions were scored based on agreement using a 5-point Likert. Scale ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Differences between scores were reported using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Ninety-three course programme leaders were contacted and eight responded (8% response rate). There was no significant difference in nutritional content between programmes (p >0.05). Mean scores were: Masters of chiropractic 3.78, Masters of osteopathy 4.06, BSc physiotherapy 2.36, BSc (Hons) sport therapy 3.03, and BSc sport therapy 3.03. No significant difference was found between courses based on characteristics (p >0.05). Discussion: The study is the first to do a cross-comparison of nutritional education of MSK therapists. Results are inconsistent with previous literature reporting poor education and self-efficacy of medical doctors in regards to patient dietary management. The study has several limitations such as low sample size, use of a non-validated questionnaire and response bias. Conclusion: There is some indication that nutritional topics are taught across courses with more emphasis on nutrition related to health and illness and least concern on public health nutrition. Future studies need to assess student satisfaction of nutritional-specific content and the self-efficacy of therapists to manage patients’ diet based on perceived quality of education.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2019
- Date Submitted
- 19.11.2019 18:31:09
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16502
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Clinical Practice Guidelines, Curriculum, Musculoskeletal, Nutrition
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Iorio, T, “Differences in the nutritional content taught across undergraduate musculoskeletal therapy programme curricula: a questionnaire study.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 1, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/327