RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Impact of malnutrition management E-Learning module on general practitioners’ Knowledge JF BJGP Open JO BJGP Open FD Royal College of General Practitioners SP BJGPO.2022.0111 DO 10.3399/BJGPO.2022.0111 A1 Aisling A Geraghty A1 Patricia Dominguez Castro A1 Ciara ME Reynolds A1 Sarah Browne A1 Frank Bourke A1 Catriona Bradley A1 Karen Finnigan A1 Sarah Clarke A1 Barbara Clyne A1 Gerard Bury A1 Carla Perrotta A1 Sharon Kennelly A1 Clare Corish YR 2022 UL http://bjgpopen.org/content/early/2022/11/21/BJGPO.2022.0111.abstract AB Background Malnutrition is under-diagnosed in primary care. General practitioners (GPs) are key healthcare contacts for older adults at risk of protein-energy malnutrition; however, lack of knowledge and confidence in its diagnosis and treatment is often reported.Aim To evaluate the impact of a bespoke online education module on GP malnutrition knowledge and management.Design & setting Six-week pre-post pilot study with 31 GPs in Ireland.Method The module included units on: ‘malnutrition definition, prevalence and latest evidence’, ‘identifying malnutrition in clinical practice’, ‘food-first advice’, ‘reviewing malnutrition’ and ‘oral nutritional supplements’. Participant knowledge was measured using a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ) before and after the module (n=31), and 6-weeks following completion (n=11). Case studies assessing identification and management of malnutrition were evaluated by a clinical specialist dietitian with expertise in managing malnutrition. Changes in assessment performance were calculated using paired t-tests. Acceptability was evaluated using a questionnaire.Results Post-training 97.5% of GPs increased MCQ scores from baseline (+25%, P<0.001), with the greatest improvement in ‘identifying malnutrition in clinical practice’ (+47%, P<0.001). Eleven GPs completed the 6-week MCQ with scores remaining significantly higher than baseline (+14%, P=0.005); ‘identifying malnutrition in clinical practice’ remained the most highly scored (+40%, P<0.001). Seventeen GPs completed the case studies; 85% at baseline and 94% post-module correctly calculated malnutrition risk scores. Appropriate malnutrition management improved by 33% after module completion.Conclusion This e-learning module improved malnutrition knowledge, with good short-term retention in a small cohort. Development of online evidence-based nutrition education may improve GP nutrition care.