Supermarket tour: the effect of presentation mode on nutrition knowledge and attitudes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A supermarket tour is an interactive experience in which students learn nutrient composition of common foods, requirements for various nutrients, issues related to eating behaviors, diseases associated with nutrient intake, and how food marketing, labeling, and regulation influence what people choose to eat. This study determined if presentation mode of a supermarket tour influenced medical students' nutrition knowledge and attitudes. METHODS Senior medical students received nutrition instruction in one of four presentation modes: live (n=11), small-group 2-hour virtual (n=8), large-group 2-hour virtual (n=69), and large-group virtual in four half-hour sessions across 4 days (n=37). The same instructor gave all tours. Students completed pre- and post-course evaluations and knowledge tests. RESULTS After the intervention, students participating in live and single-session groups had greater nutrition knowledge than the students participating in the extended course. Students in small groups also had higher confidence in giving nutrition advice. There was no difference among the four groups for enthusiasm. Students gave a higher recommendation to the live mode than to the extended version. CONCLUSIONS The virtual tour is effective at improving knowledge, engaging, and provides information that students may use for themselves and their patients. Single-session live teaching is most well received.