Prescribing Nutrition
December 7, 2023
Nutrition: a pillar of Australian healthcare
The “Prescribing Nutrition” course is a free online program aimed at GPs, medical students, and health professionals in Australia and New Zealand, building awareness and education around nutritional advice for all. Why do clinicians need to be equipped with these tools? In the vast and intricate tapestry of healthcare, general practitioners (GPs) especially, hold a uniquely influential thread. They stand at the crossroads of scientific knowledge and community well-being, where their actions can weave significant changes in the health landscape of a nation. The potential of GPs to reshape healthcare through mindful and considered approaches to nutrition education in their communities is both profound and far-reaching.
Nutrition, often sidelined in the hustle of medical interventions, is a fundamental pillar of health that GPs are uniquely positioned to champion. By integrating comprehensive nutrition education into their practice, GPs can ignite a transformative shift in healthcare. This shift transcends the reactive nature of medicine to embrace proactive health management.
We continue to Imagine a community where GPs serve as educators but consider the potential leadership figure they could provide as advocates of nutritional well-being. In such a community, the ripple effects of improved dietary habits could be monumental. Knowledge about healthy eating equips individuals to make informed decisions, fostering a sense of control over their health destinies. This empowerment is particularly crucial in underserved areas, where health disparities are most pronounced, and where access to reliable health information can be a game-changer.
The impact of GPs embracing nutrition education is not just a step but a leap towards a healthier nation. It is a vision where healthcare transcends the boundaries of clinics and hospitals, spilling into the realms of daily life, making health a tangible, achievable goal for all.
Doctors for nutrition
In 2018, founders Lucy Stegley and Dr. Heleen Roex established an organisation to serve as an independent advocate for the role of nutrition in healthcare in the Southern Hemisphere. They recognize the strong evidence supporting the benefits of a whole food plant-based diet in preventing, reversing, or significantly reducing the impact of various diseases, a fact often overlooked in conventional medical practices. The team at Doctors For Nutrition is dedicated to providing clinicians, institutions, and the public in their region with evidence-based information and educational resources on optimal human nutrition. Their overarching aim is to encourage the healthcare industry, policy makers, and society as a whole to embrace whole food plant-based nutrition as an effective tool in disease prevention and management.
Prescribing Nutrition
The “Prescribing Nutrition” course offers a unique and invaluable opportunity for GPs, medical students, and health professionals in Australia and New Zealand to revolutionise their approach to patient care through plant-based nutrition. This free online course is specifically designed to fast-track participants’ understanding of how plant-based nutrition can significantly improve patient outcomes. Addressing a critical gap in medical education, it focuses on the role of nutrition in combating some of the leading causes of disease and early death. By equipping practitioners with this knowledge, the course aims to transform the traditional approach to healthcare, emphasising prevention and management of illnesses through dietary choices.
Building understanding
Delivered by a team of experienced doctors and dietitians, the course curriculum is comprehensive and practical. It includes on-demand lessons covering nutrition essentials, a recorded GP webinar detailing effective strategies for supporting patients with dietary changes, and real-life insights from health professionals. Key topics include the principles of a healthy, sustainable plant-based diet, practical ways to assist patients in making positive dietary shifts, methods for rapid dietary assessment, and collaborative development of nutrition goals. These modules are not only educational but also aim to build confidence in handling nutrition-related patient discussions and interventions.
Accreditation and CPD
One of the course’s unique features is its focus on practical application. Participants are required to undertake an exercise that involves applying new tools and techniques with their patients, followed by submitting a written observation of their experience. This hands-on approach ensures that the learning is not just theoretical but directly applicable to day-to-day practice. Furthermore, the course is accredited for 8 CPD hours by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), making it a valuable addition to any health professional’s continuing education.
Opportunities for GPs
Recognising the diverse schedules and learning paces of its participants, the course offers considerable flexibility. With an estimated completion time of around 8 hours, participants can choose to finish the course in less than 6 weeks or extend their learning up to 6 months. Additionally, the course provides the opportunity for ongoing learning through optional live webinars featuring plant-based GPs and health professionals, starting from 2023. These webinars serve as a platform for continued education and discussion on the latest developments in plant-based nutrition and patient care.
Find out more or register here for this FREE course: https://app.medcpd.com/courses/3614
