Kataoka Minako, Adam Lee Ann, Ball Lauren Elizabeth, Crowley Jennifer, McLean Rachael Mira
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Eur J Dent Educ. 2025 Feb;29(1):64-83. doi: 10.1111/eje.13045. Epub 2024 Oct 29.
Dentists and oral health practitioners have a potential role in supporting the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases. However, the extent to which university education prepares practitioners to provide nutrition care is unclear. This scoping review identifies and synthesises the evidence related to university-level nutrition education provided to dental and oral health students globally.
A scoping review identified relevant literature through search terms "dentistry," "oral health," or "oral hygiene"; "dental students" or "dental education"; "nutrition education" or "nutrition science." Articles were included that examined nutrition education in undergraduate oral health training; or nutrition knowledge, attitudes, confidence, or skills or dietary habits; experts' opinion papers; and position statements. No limitations on the publication years or languages of the articles were applied.
A total of 136 articles were included. Half were surveys of students (n = 49) or academic staff (n = 21). The remainder comprised reports of curriculum initiatives (n = 26), opinion papers or narrative reviews (n = 24), position statements (n = 6), curriculum development (n = 6) and curriculum guidelines (n = 9). While dental and oral health students and curriculum experts overwhelmingly recognised the importance of nutrition, most studies that assessed nutrition knowledge of students revealed limited knowledge. Students were not confident in their skills to provide nutrition care. Lack of nutrition experts on teaching teams and unclear expectations about developing nutrition competencies were identified as barriers to greater nutrition education.
Nutrition education in university dental and oral health degrees is highly variable. The potential for oral health professionals of the future to promote oral health through nutrition is unrealised.
牙医和口腔健康从业者在支持非传染性疾病的预防和管理方面具有潜在作用。然而，大学教育使从业者具备提供营养护理能力的程度尚不清楚。本范围综述确定并综合了全球范围内与向牙科和口腔健康专业学生提供的大学水平营养教育相关的证据。
一项范围综述通过搜索词“牙科”“口腔健康”或“口腔卫生”；“牙科学生”或“牙科教育”；“营养教育”或“营养科学”来确定相关文献。纳入的文章包括研究本科口腔健康培训中的营养教育；或营养知识、态度、信心、技能或饮食习惯；专家意见论文；以及立场声明。对文章的发表年份或语言没有限制。
共纳入136篇文章。其中一半是对学生（n = 49）或学术人员（n = 21）的调查。其余文章包括课程倡议报告（n = 26）、意见论文或叙述性综述（n = 24）、立场声明（n = 6）、课程开发（n = 6）和课程指南（n = 9）。虽然牙科和口腔健康专业学生以及课程专家压倒性地认识到营养的重要性，但大多数评估学生营养知识的研究显示知识有限。学生对提供营养护理的技能缺乏信心。教学团队中缺乏营养专家以及对培养营养能力的期望不明确被确定为加强营养教育的障碍。
大学牙科和口腔健康学位中的营养教育差异很大。未来口腔健康专业人员通过营养促进口腔健康的潜力尚未实现。
