Study Title
Virtual teaching kitchen classes and cardiovascular disease prevention counselling among medical trainees.
Principal Investigator
Alexander C. Razavi, Timothy S. Harlan, et al.
Affiliation
Tulane University School of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.
Start Date
July 2012.
End Date
June 2021.
Study Objective
To determine whether virtual culinary medicine programming associates with Mediterranean diet adherence and lifestyle medicine competencies among medical trainees across the USA.
Short Abstract
This study assessed 1,433 medical trainees who participated in virtual teaching kitchen classes and compared them to those in traditional nutrition curricula. Virtual culinary medicine education was associated with a 37% higher likelihood of adherence to Mediterranean diet guidelines and greater proficiency in lifestyle medicine counseling, especially regarding fiber intake and type 2 diabetes prevention. The study suggests that virtual culinary education can be an effective tool for improving cardiovascular health among medical professionals and their future patients.
Study Design
Cross-sectional study using the Cooking for Health Optimization with Patients (CHOP-MT) survey.
Population
Medical trainees from 19 institutions in the USA.
Sample Size
1,433 medical trainees (519 in virtual culinary classes, 914 in traditional curricula).
Inclusion Criteria
Medical trainees participating in culinary medicine curricula or standard nutritional curricula.
Exclusion Criteria
Not specified.
Intervention/Exposure
Virtual culinary medicine classes focusing on Mediterranean diet adherence and cardiovascular health.
Outcome Measures
Mediterranean diet adherence, lifestyle medicine counseling competencies (fiber intake, type 2 diabetes prevention, etc.).
Funding Source
Supported by the Goldring Family Foundation, Woldenberg Family Foundation, Humana Foundation, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Collaborating Institutions
Multiple US medical institutions.
Ethics Approval
Approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Tulane University (IRB Reference #729959).
Publication Status
Published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, February 2023.
Keywords
Culinary medicine, cardiovascular disease, Mediterranean diet, virtual education, medical trainees.
Data Collection Methods
CHOP-MT survey with 61 questions regarding dietary habits, lifestyle medicine competencies, and demographics.
Primary Data Availability
Not available.
Contact Information
Dr. Timothy S. Harlan,