Physicians as Teachers

As the interview in JAMA continued, Dr. Devries continued talking about the lack of training and why it was a problem in his mind. He cited a study published in 2013 by the U.S. Burden of Disease Collaborators which concluded that the leading risk factor for degenerative disease and mortality was a poor diet. A poor diet! He suggests that because physicians are so poorly trained in nutrition—meaning not at all—their patients are suffering the consequences.

Dr. Devries became frustrated and together with others formed the Gaples Institute for Integrative Cardiology, a non-profit that aims to teach the public and physicians about diet, exercise, and the mind-body approach to heart health.

For the rest, it’s not just giving a patient a couple of handouts with healthy diet guidelines. Physicians have to somehow become the teachers. For that, they need training. But even before training can be addressed, insurance companies must be willing to pay for this type of physician-patient time—or any time beyond the 15-minute consultation limit imposed by many healthcare businesses. While the insurance companies may provide websites and materials and even some training with dieticians, it doesn’t carry the power the physician would have.

No real nutrition training of physicians, no hands-on nutrition training by physicians, yet what physicians say resonates with their patients in ways they don’t realize. On Saturday I’ll tell you the four most powerful words I hear about health.

What are you prepared to do today?