NUTD4102 Research Methods & Skills in Evidence Based Nutrition Practice

2019

9

1 x 90-minute tutorial weekly
10 x 2-hour seminars per semester
24 x 2-hour workshops per semester
1 x 7-day intensive workshop once-only
1 x 45-hour project work per semester

1 Admission into BND-Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics
2 2 of NUTD3101, NUTD3102
Must Satisfy: (1 and 2)

1 of NUTD4002, NUTD4011, NUTD4012 has been successfully completed

This topic requires students to have an understanding of human nutrition as it applies to the clinical and public health setting. In addition, students are required to have an understanding of the fundamentals of nutritional epidemiology and introductory biostatistics.

This topic is designed to meet the national competency standards for entry level dietitians in Australia, specifically Unit 7: Research and Evaluation. It will be at an introductory level compared to the research topic administered for students of the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (honours) however students will be taught some sessions concurrently.

Assignments; Project; Seminar; Tests

This topic will further enhance students knowledge of evidence based nutrition and dietetic practice through focussing on the basic approaches to investigating nutritional health and diet-related disease states in individuals and populations, and the application of these in the field of nutrition and dietetics. After an introduction to basic methods of research in nutrition and dietetics, students will be provided with an opportunity to develop a research proposal as part of a group and then analyse a database of relevance to the research question, interpret the findings and present these in a form suitable for a scientific audience. Students will further develop skills in critical appraisal through evaluating current controversies and recent developments in the field, as they appear in the scientific literature. The topic emphasises the individual and collective responsibilities of continuing education in professional practice.

The aim of this topic is to:

• To provide students with the fundamental knowledge and skills required for design, analysis, interpretation and critical evaluation of studies in human nutrition and dietetics.

• To expose students to a range of current controversies and recent developments in human nutrition and dietetics.

• Develop skills in scientific writing and presentation.

• To foster an appreciation for lifelong learning and evidence based practice in human nutrition and dietetics within a professional development framework.

By completion of this topic, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an ability to apply their knowledge in the critical evaluation of the evidence base for current controversies and recent developments in human nutrition and dietetics and make recommendations for practice and future research.

• Demonstrate sufficient knowledge to develop a research proposal collaboratively, with consideration given to formulating a research question and project aims, identifying appropriate outcomes and data collection methods, considering ethical implications and planning for an evaluation of the findings.

• Independently extract relevant research data and analyse it statistically to generate accurate results and recommendations for practice and research.

• Present the outcomes of research covering all aspects of the research process using communication strategies suitable for scientific audiences.

• Actively participate in a journal club and understand and experience the responsibilities and rewards of professional development .