NEPHELP | NNEdPro

Nutrition Education Policy in Healthcare Practice (NEPHELP)

Summary

NEPHELP aimed to develop, test, improve and implement nutrition education resources for doctors in hospitals and community settings.

We presented core nutrition materials to doctors and other healthcare professionals, taking on board their feedback and tailoring the material and delivery to best fit their needs. This ultimately allowed us to advocate for greater nutrition training in mandatory curricula and to support education teams in implementing this.

aims

We aimed to empower doctors with greater nutrition training, enabling them to become champions of nutrition within their local teams. This ultimately improved patient care directly through changes in their practice, a greater focus within the teams they worked in, and a reduction in the pressure of inappropriate or unsupported referrals to dietitians.

Alongside this, we continued to use our findings, experience and publications to advocate for change in medical student and doctors’ training, ensuring adequate levels of nutrition education.

We anticipated that this would lead to a greater focus on nutrition and lifestyle change to prevent and treat disease, supported by a trained healthcare workforce working seamlessly between hospitals and the community.

Timeline

2018

NEPHELP was developed through an MNI-ESPEN-funded grant.

2018-2019

Surveys were collected from junior doctors and medical students on their nutrition training and subsequent confidence. These were analysed and published as a peer-reviewed paper.

2019-2020

Content for a core nutrition workshop for medical professionals was developed and delivered across England, with resources adapted based on feedback.

2020-2023

The materials were adapted into an online virtual learning environment, targeting primary care doctors (GPs). GPs interested in nutrition training and contributing to shaping future resources are invited to register here.