Increasing Patient Dietary Compliance (CME Program)

Helping patients to eat healthier


Dietary habits have a great impact on a person's health.  According to the Surgeon General, 6 of the 10 leading causes of death are linked directly to diet. That is why so many patients look to their doctors for help. Unfortunately, many doctors are not in a position to do so. According to NIH data, 85% of physicians state they are not effective in helping patients make healthy dietary changes.

This program looks at why patients are unable to stick to balanced eating patterns. It provides the most current science and tools for health professionals to better help patients institute and maintain a healthy diet. Joe examines fad diets, from "no fat" to "no carbohydrates." He provides a critical look at dietary counseling techniques and shows how the current standard-of-care may be setting patients up for failure.

The program will examine the role of food cravings, physiologically identified as a fat tooth, on dietary habits. Joe also examines the impact of chronic stress on dietary habits. Attendees will gain the information, insight and tools needed to help their patients make healthy dietary changes.

 

 

THE SITUATION

More patients today are nutritionally-literate about the link between a high-fat, low-fiber diet and numerous diseases and conditions (heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, gout and the nation's leading ailment - obesity.) But the path from cognitive understanding to behavior change does not always take place.

THE PROBLEM

According to NIH data, over 50% of coronary bypass patients are off a healthy diet within six months of surgery. Indeed, NIH surveys show that over 85% of physicians do not feel they help their patients to make permanent dietary changes. This often results in a lack of compliancy and persistency on the part of the patient.

THE SOLUTION

This program looks at why most patients are unable to stick with a balanced eating pattern. More importantly, it provides the most current science and tools for health professionals to better help patients institute and maintain a healthy diet. Mr. Piscatella examines the modern American diet, identifies cultural and physiological reasons for its high-fat, low-fiber content, and suggests specific, practical steps for increasing dietary compliance. His material is based on USDA and American Heart Association Guidelines, and includes a discussion of "functional foods" that particularly benefit heart health. Special emphasis will be given to helping patients develop long-term habits as opposed to short-term dietary changes. In addition, he provides a critical look at dietary counseling techniques and shows how the current standard-of-care may be setting patients up for failure. Attendees will gain the information, insight and tools needed to help their patients make healthy dietary changes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  1. To identify the major factors responsible for dietary non-compliance.
  2. To help patients include "functional foods" in their diet.
  3. To help patients create and use a fat budget.