Addressing Gaps in Nutrition Education Across Medical and Nursing Curricula
Main Article Content
Keywords
Curriculum Development, Nutrition Education, Medical and Nursing Education, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Abstract- This study evaluates the current status of nutrition education within medical and nursing curricula across Saudi Arabia, aiming to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for enhancement. Using a comprehensive survey of 400 participants, including students, faculty, and administrators from five leading Saudi institutions, quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to measure curriculum hours, topics covered, stakeholder satisfaction, faculty expertise, and barriers to effective nutrition training. Results reveal that nutrition education comprises a small portion of total curriculum hours, with significant disparities between medical and nursing programs. Common barriers such as curriculum overload, lack of time, and insufficient faculty expertise were identified. Although practical nutrition training and guideline usage are moderately prevalent, student competency scores suggest the need for improved teaching strategies. The study’s findings inform actionable recommendations for curriculum reform and faculty development aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 goals, highlighting the importance of integrated, standardized, and competency-based nutrition education to strengthen healthcare delivery and population health outcomes.
References
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[27] Almaqbel, S. S., Alsharary, Z. H., Zaidalhumaidan, A., Alhumeid, A. A., Alqutaim, M. M. M., Aldosary, A. A. N., Asiri, N. A., & Almijher, T. M. (2024). Integrating nutrition into medical education in Saudi Arabia: A narrative review of global practices and local perspectives. Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research, 7(S7), 1101. https://doi.org/10.30658/jicrcr.7.s7.1101
[28] Alshahrani, N. Z., Bafaraj, A. G., & Alamri, H. M. (2024). Exploring university students’ nutrition literacy in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1425650. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1425650
[29] Rainford, M., Barbour, L. A., Birch, D., Catalano, P., Daniels, E., Gremont, C., Marshall, N. E., Wharton, K., & Thornburg, K. (2024). Barriers to implementing good nutrition in pregnancy and early childhood: Creating equitable national solutions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.15122
[2] Havercamp, S. M., Barnhart, W. R., Robinson, A. C., & Smith, C. N. W. (2021). What should we teach about disability? National consensus on disability competencies for health care education. Disability and Health Journal, 14(2), 100989. sciencedirect.com
[3] Ugai, T., Sasamoto, N., Lee, H. Y., Ando, M., Song, M., Tamimi, R. M., ... & Ogino, S. (2022). Is early-onset cancer an emerging global epidemic? Current evidence and future implications. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 19(10), 656-673. nih.gov
[4] Marshall, N. E., Abrams, B., Barbour, L. A., Catalano, P., Christian, P., Friedman, J. E., ... & Thornburg, K. L. (2022). The importance of nutrition in pregnancy and lactation: lifelong consequences. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 226(5), 607-632. sciencedirect.com
[5] Martin, S., Sturgiss, E., Douglas, K., & Ball, L. (2020). Hidden curriculum within nutrition education in medical schools. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 3(1), 18. nih.gov
[6] Jones, G., Macaninch, E., Mellor, D. D., Spiro, A., Martyn, K., Butler, T., ... & Moore, J. B. (2023). Putting nutrition education on the table: development of a curriculum to meet future doctors’ needs. British Journal of Nutrition, 129(6), 1000-1008. cambridge.org
[7] Bassin, S. R., Al-Nimr, R. I., Allen, K., & Ogrinc, G. (2020). The state of nutrition in medical education in the United States. Nutrition Reviews. oup.com
[8] World Health Organization. (2020). Mobilizing ambitious and impactful commitments for mainstreaming nutrition in health systems: nutrition in universal health coverage: global nutrition summit. who.int
[9] Newman, C., Yan, J., Messiah, S. E., & Albin, J. (2023). Culinary medicine as innovative nutrition education for medical students: a scoping review. Academic Medicine. sap2.org.ar
[10] Eisenberg, D. M., Cole, A., Maile, E. J., Salt, M., Armstrong, E., Leib, E. B., ... & Edgar, L. (2024). Proposed nutrition competencies for medical students and physician trainees: a consensus statement. JAMA Network Open, 7(9), e2435425-e2435425. jamanetwork.com
[11] Lufler, R. S., & McNulty, M. A. (2022). The glass ceiling thickens: the impact of COVID-19 on academic medicine faculty in the United States. Medical Education Online. tandfonline.com
[12] Kelley, A. D. (2024). Medical schools as cisgendered organizations. Social Science & Medicine. [HTML]
[13] Kruger, D. J., Gerlach, J., Kruger, J. S., Mokbel, M. A., Clauw, D. J., & Boehnke, K. F. (2024). Physicians' attitudes and practices regarding cannabis and recommending medical cannabis use. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 9(4), e1048-e1055. [HTML]
[14] Tait, S. D., Oshima, S. M., Leeras, H. J., Gunn, A., Sarver, M., Gunes, F., & Greenup, R. A. (2023). Implementation of an educational intervention to improve medical student cost awareness: a prospective cohort study. BMC Medical Education, 23(1), 73. springer.com
[15] Wilson, A. B., Kaza, N., Singpurwalla, D. J., & Brooks, W. S. (2021). Are anatomy PhDs nearing extinction or adapting to change? United States graduate education trends in the anatomical sciences. Anatomical Sciences Education, 14(4), 432-439. [HTML]
[16] Clinton, S. K., Giovannucci, E. L., & Hursting, S. D. (2020). The world cancer research fund/American institute for cancer research third expert report on diet, nutrition, physical activity, and cancer: impact and future …. The Journal of Nutrition. sciencedirect.com
[17] Lepre, B., Mansfield, K. J., Ray, S., & Beck, E. J. (2021). Nutrition competencies for medicine: an integrative review and critical synthesis. BMJ Open. bmj.com
[18] Vrkatić, A., Grujičić, M., Jovičić-Bata, J., & Novaković, B. (2022). Nutritional knowledge, confidence, attitudes towards nutritional care and nutrition counselling practice among general practitioners. Healthcare. mdpi.com
[19] Lepre, B., Mansfield, K. J., Ray, S., & Beck, E. (2021). Reference to nutrition in medical accreditation and curriculum guidance: a comparative analysis. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 4(1), 307. nih.gov
[20] Auld, M. E., Allen, M. P., Hampton, C., Montes, J. H., Sherry, C., Mickalide, A. D., ... & Parson, K. (2020). Health literacy and health education in schools: collaboration for action. NAM Perspectives, 2020. nih.gov
[21] Omotayo, O., Maduka, C. P., Muonde, M., Olorunsogo, T. O., & Ogugua, J. O. (2024). The rise of non-communicable diseases: a global health review of challenges and prevention strategies. International Medical Science Research Journal, 4(1), 74-88. fepbl.com
[22] Gebremedhin, S., & Bekele, T. (2021). Evaluating the African food supply against the nutrient intake goals set for preventing diet-related non-communicable diseases: 1990 to 2017 trend analysis. PLOS ONE. plos.org
[23] Dogan, E. I. K., Borgen, I., Ekiz, P., & Wesseltoft-Rao, N. (2025). Nutrition education for nursing students: A scoping review. Nurse Education Today, 144, 106460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106460
[24] Sousa, J. R., Afreixo, V., Carvalho, J., & Silva, P. (2024). Nutrition and physical activity education in medical school: A narrative review. Nutrients, 16(16), 2809. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162809
[25] Raut, S., KC, D., Singh, D. R., Dhungana, R. R., Pradhan, P. M. S., & Sunuwar, D. R. (2024). Effect of nutrition education intervention on nutrition knowledge, attitude, and diet quality among school-going adolescents: A quasi-experimental study. BMC Nutrition, 10, 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-024-00435-7
[26] Escher, N. A., Andrade, G. C., Ghosh-Jerath, S., Millett, C., & Seferidi, P. (2024). The effect of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions on the double burden of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. The Lancet Global Health, 12(3), e419–e432. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00073-5
[27] Almaqbel, S. S., Alsharary, Z. H., Zaidalhumaidan, A., Alhumeid, A. A., Alqutaim, M. M. M., Aldosary, A. A. N., Asiri, N. A., & Almijher, T. M. (2024). Integrating nutrition into medical education in Saudi Arabia: A narrative review of global practices and local perspectives. Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research, 7(S7), 1101. https://doi.org/10.30658/jicrcr.7.s7.1101
[28] Alshahrani, N. Z., Bafaraj, A. G., & Alamri, H. M. (2024). Exploring university students’ nutrition literacy in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1425650. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1425650
[29] Rainford, M., Barbour, L. A., Birch, D., Catalano, P., Daniels, E., Gremont, C., Marshall, N. E., Wharton, K., & Thornburg, K. (2024). Barriers to implementing good nutrition in pregnancy and early childhood: Creating equitable national solutions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.15122
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Published
Oct 14, 2025
Article Details
How to Cite
Areej Almusaylim, Mehad Alrewaithi, MOHAMMED K. BIN DUAYLIJ, RAED M. ALOTAIBI, Faisal A. AL Osaimi, ABDULELAH A. O. ALRASHED, Meshari M. ALOTAIBI, & Amasi M. Radwan. (2025). Addressing Gaps in Nutrition Education Across Medical and Nursing Curricula. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 32(10), 2492-2512. https://doi.org/10.67145/36bxbc50
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How to Cite
Areej Almusaylim, Mehad Alrewaithi, MOHAMMED K. BIN DUAYLIJ, RAED M. ALOTAIBI, Faisal A. AL Osaimi, ABDULELAH A. O. ALRASHED, Meshari M. ALOTAIBI, & Amasi M. Radwan. (2025). Addressing Gaps in Nutrition Education Across Medical and Nursing Curricula. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 32(10), 2492-2512. https://doi.org/10.67145/36bxbc50
