| dc.description.abstract | Background: Research indicates that multiple chronic diseases can be prevented through improved nutrition, and specifically, the Mediterranean Diet. An increased Mediterranean Diet Score is associated with a reduced risk for chronic disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between a short-term Mediterranean Diet culinary medicine course and the resulting Mediterranean Diet Scores (MDS) of educators and staff employed at a local private school in Fort Worth, Texas. Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, 22 K-12 educators and staff from All Saints' Episcopal School in Fort Worth, Texas completed: 1) a pre-survey; 2) a two-week, six-hour Mediterranean Diet culinary medicine course at Texas Christian University (TCU); and 3) a post-survey. The pre- and post-surveys utilized the short, nine-question Oldways Rate Your Med Diet Score. Study procedures were approved by the TCU IRB, and participants' informed consent was obtained. Data was analyzed to meet study objectives using Excel and a p-value of 0.026. Results: Participants' mean pre-intervention MDS was 5.15 (0-9 scale). Participants' mean post-intervention score was 5.96. This increase in MDS was statistically significant using a two-tailed p-value of 0.026. Ninety-two percent of participants' MDSs increased from pre- to post-intervention, with 38.5% of participants reporting a MDS greater than or equal to 6 prior to intervention and 69.2% of participants reporting a MDS greater than or equal to 6 post-intervention. Conclusions: A short-term Mediterranean Diet culinary medicine course was associated with a favorable increase in the Oldways Rate Your Med Diet Score. This is concurrent with previously published scientific literature which indicates an increased MDS and reduced risk of chronic disease following culinary nutrition intervention. | |
