Fast-Food Outlets in Hospitals Affiliated With U.S. Medical Schools

Objectives: To determine the current prevalence and type of fast-food outlets at medical-school-affiliated hospitals and compare them to previous findings to assess progress in improving the hospital food environment. Method: We invited medical students at 192 medical and osteopathic schools to complete Sogolytics surveys reporting on fast-food restaurants that are affiliated with their main teaching hospital or medical centers. Results: Of 192 medical and osteopathic schools, 255 individual completed surveys were received from 146 schools. 101 schools (69.2%) reportedly hosted at least one fast-food restaurant associated with the hospitals at which students rotate, these include 15.1% schools that gave a mixed response to the question if fast-food restaurants are present in any affiliated hospitals. 45 schools (30.8%) reported no fast-food restaurants in any affiliated hospitals. The five most common fast-food restaurants reported were Starbucks (27.9%), Subway (18.8%), Chick-fil-A (9.2%), Au Bon Pain (8.8%), and McDonald’s (5.4%). Regarding the statement, “It is acceptable for fast-food restaurants to be in hospitals,” 27.8% of students strongly disagreed, 29.0% somewhat disagreed, 16.9% neither agreed nor disagreed, 21.2% somewhat agreed, and only 5.1% strongly agreed. Conclusions: The majority of the teaching hospitals affiliated with the schools have at least one fast-food restaurant onsite.