The nutrition knowledge level of physicians, nurses and nutritionists in some educational hospitals

Nutritional care is an important part of medical care of patients and plays a key role in improvement, prevention and control of malnutrition in hospitals. The current study aimed to determine the nutrition knowledge level of doctors, nurses and nutritionists in some teaching hospitals in Tehran in 2008. In a cross-sectional study a total of 198 samples including 28 nutritionists, 81 nurses and 89 physicians were selected using simple random sampling. The current study was conducted in 9 hospitals affiliated with the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU) in Tehran. A self-administered multiple choice questionnaire about different aspects of basic and clinical nutrition was completed. Then nutrition knowledge levels of each individual was determined by calculating correct knowledge, perceived knowledge and accuracy of knowledge scores. The median knowledge score of the nutritionists, physicians, and nurses was 85%,77%, and 75%, respectively. The median perceived knowledge of all the groups was above 90%. The mean accuracy score in the 3 groups of nutritionists, physicians and nurses was 87%,79%, and 76%, respectively. The results indicated that all groups have a poor knowledge, especially in clinical nutrition topics. Based on the current results, knowledge level of clinical staff is an effective factor in not paying attention to the importance of nutritional care as a part of medical care of the patients. Enhancing awareness level of all groups especially physicians and nutritionists in clinical division plays an important role in enhancing clinical nutrition care and treatment regime