| Abstract | Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is evidence-based nutrition therapy provided by a Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) to help treat medical conditions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current understanding and perception of the RD/RDN role in healthcare among undergraduate pre-health students. Following IRB approval, a convenience sample of TCU pre-health students (n=94) completed an electronic survey. Data were coded into and analyzed using SPSS 29. 23% (n=22) of participants had previously taken a nutrition course. Participants were asked on their opinions regarding the importance of the RD/RDN in improving the quality of care for patients with a variety of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, cancer, chronic kidney disease, Parkinson's disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders, and ulcerative colitis. 55% (n=52) of participants reported that the RD/RDN would be important in the care for all of these conditions. When asked if they would either refer a patient with a specific disease to an RD/RDN for nutrition counseling, provide a nutrition handout, briefly educate patient on nutrition themselves, or recommend online nutrition information from an official source, over half of participants would refer to an RD/RDN for obesity, celiac disease, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eating disorders and ulcerative colitis. Fewer than half of participants would refer patients with Parkinson's disease, cancer and stroke to an RD/RDN. Less than a quarter of pre-health students have taken a nutrition course and therefore most are likely unfamiliar with MNT recommendations appropriate for various chronic diseases. |
