First Advisor
Dunemn, Kathleen N.
Second Advisor
Levine, Martha
Date Created
8-2018
Abstract
A wealth of evidence shows whole-food, plant-based diets are beneficial for disease risk reduction and treatment. Specific conditions positively impacted by plant based diets include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, many cancers, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and depression. Even m odest increases in intake of plant based foods can have positive effects but the diets of most Americans consist primarily sugars, fats, and processed foods with little to no intake of fresh, plant-based foods, which contributes to the poor health of many people across the nation. Few of these people are routinely counseled to eat a plant-based diet partly because few healthcare providers are aware of the evidence in support of such a diet, indicating a substantial evidence-practice gap. To help bridge this gap, a plant-based experiential education program for healthcare providers was conducted in which 30 providers learned about and followed a plant-based diet for three weeks. Outcomes assessed were dietary changes, plant-based dietary knowledge, weight, quality of life, self-efficacy for knowledge and ability to counsel patients about plant-based diets, personal and professional benefits and barriers, and likelihood of following and/or talking to patients about plant-based diets. Participants had positive changes in nearly all areas comparing pre- and post-intervention measures, illustrating substantial personal and professional changes. Through participating in this program, participants became more knowledgeable, more confident, and better equipped to discuss plant-based diets with their patients, increasing the likelihood of this knowledge being disseminated, and translating the evidence in support of plant-based diets into practice.
Keywords
Plant-based, Vegan, Experiential education, Self-efficacy
Extent
272 pages
Local Identifiers
LessamCapstone2018
Rights Statement
Copyright is held by the author.
Recommended Citation
Lessem, Alexandra, "It Starts With Us: A Plant-Based Experiential Education Program for Healthcare Providers in Northern Colorado" (2018). Capstones & Scholarly Projects. 42.
https://digscholarship.unco.edu/capstones/42