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Failure of dietetic referral in patients with gastrointestinal cancer and weight loss.

This study examined whether staff working within a cancer centre treating patients with gastrointestinal malignancy routinely identified individuals from outpatients for referral to a dietitian. A nutrition screening tool is employed only for in-patient admissions. Height, current and usual weight were recorded prospectively in all patients referred for consideration of treatment. First appointment with the dietitian, first hospital admission, demographic and clinical details were obtained from hospital records. Time from first appointment to referral to a dietitian was examined. Between September 2002 and March 2004, 920 patients were included. Five hundred and seventeen patients had lost weight, of whom 223 patients had lost between 5% and 10% and 294 patients had lost more than 10% of their pre-morbid weight. Three hundred and twenty-seven patients (36%) were referred to dietitians. Twenty eight (9%) of referrals were made by staff in outpatients. Two hundred and ninety-nine were referred during or after an inpatient admission but only 39% of these occurred within the first seven days following admission. One third of patients with more than 10% weight loss were not referred for dietary assessment, even following admission. The likelihood of referral was significantly associated with the degree of weight loss (univariate analysis hazard ratio (HR) 1.75, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.4-2.19, multivariate HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.22-2.23) and was independent of factors such as performance status and clinical setting. Few patients were identified early in their treatment for referral to a dietitian. Since most chemotherapy is now given on an outpatient basis, patients are unlikely to be referred if they do not require admission. This study suggests that an out-patient dietetic screening tool is urgently required. Such screening is likely to result in considerable improvements to the clinical care of cancer patients with weight loss.

Aged↗

Position of the American Dietetic association: fat replacers.

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that the majority of fat replacers, when used in moderation by adults, can be safe and useful adjuncts to lowering the fat content of foods and may play a role in decreasing total dietary energy and fat intake. Moderate use of low-calorie, reduced-fat foods, combined with low total energy intake, could potentially promote dietary intake consistent with the objectives of Healthy People 2010 and the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans . The obesity epidemic in the nation has been attributed to energy imbalance, mainly because of increased food consumption and/or sedentary lifestyle, or both. Evidence suggests that lowering total energy intake along with a reduction in total fat intake can have a substantial impact on body weight and risk of chronic diseases. Fat replacers are used to provide some or all of the functional properties of fat, while providing fewer calories than the fat being replaced, and are used in a variety of products, from baked goods to frozen desserts. Fat replacers can be effective only if they lower the total caloric content of the food and if the consumer uses these foods as part of a balanced meal plan. Consumers should not be led to believe that fat- and calorie-reduced products can be consumed in unlimited amounts. Fat replacers are most useful when they help with calorie control and when their use encourages the consumption of foods delivering important nutrients.

Consumer Product Safety↗

Functions performed by level of practice of registered dietitian members of the diabetes care and education dietetic practice group.

The purpose of this study was to examine current professional practices of registered dietitians (RDs) in the Diabetes Care and Education dietetic practice group (DPG), analyzed by levels of practice: entry-level, specialty-practice, or advanced-level. The results of the Diabetes Care and Education DPG 2002-2003 membership survey were used for this study. The study was limited to RD members of the Diabetes Care and Education DPG who completed the membership survey in its entirety. Frequency distributions, chi2, Fisher exact test, and cluster analysis were performed with a prior alpha set at .10. Sixty-one (5.0%) RDs were functioning as an entry-level practitioner, 851 (69.1%) were functioning as a specialty-practice practitioner, and 320 (25.1%) as an advanced-level practitioner. Significantly more advanced-level practitioners were performing more tasks compared with entry-level practitioners. Entry-level RDs performed a mean of 2.4 functions, specialty-practice practitioners performed 7.7, and advanced-level practitioners performed 11.6 functions. The results of this survey further delineated that RDs function at various levels of practice and that credentials for RDs increased as level of practice advanced.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

Nutrigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and the practice of dietetics.

The human genome is estimated to encode over 30,000 genes, and to be responsible for generating more than 100,000 functionally distinct proteins. Understanding the interrelationships among genes, gene products, and dietary habits is fundamental to identifying those who will benefit most from or be placed at risk by intervention strategies. Unraveling the multitude of nutrigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic patterns that arise from the ingestion of foods or their bioactive food components will not be simple but is likely to provide insights into a tailored approach to diet and health. The use of new and innovative technologies, such as microarrays, RNA interference, and nanotechnologies, will provide needed insights into molecular targets for specific bioactive food components and how they harmonize to influence individual phenotypes. Undeniably, to understand the interaction of food components and gene products, there is a need for additional research in the "omics" of nutrition. It is incumbent upon dietetics professionals to recognize that an individual's response to dietary intervention will depend on his or her genetic background and that this information may be used to promote human health and disease prevention. The objectives of this review are to acquaint nutritional professionals with terms relating to "omics," to convey the state of the science to date, to envision the possibilities for future research and technology, and to recognize the implications for clinical practice.

Animals↗

Position of the American Dietetic Association: food irradiation.

Food irradiation has been identified a sa safe technology to reduce the risk of foodborne illness as part of high-quality food production, processing, handling, and preparation. Food irradiation's history of scientific research , evaluation, and testing spans more than 40 countries around the world and it has been endorsed or support by numerous national and international food and organizations and professional groups. Food irradiation utilizes a source of ionizing energy that passes through food to destroy harmful bacteria and other organism. Often referred to as "cold pasteurization," food irradiation offers negligible loss of nutrients or sensory qualities in food as it does not substantially raise the temperature of the food during processing. Food irradiation does not replace proper food production, processing, handling, or preparation, nor can it enhance the quality of or prevent contact with foodborne bacteria after irradiation. In the United States, manufacturers are required to identify irradiated food sold to consumers with an international symbol (Radura) and and terminology describing the process on product labels. In addiction, food irradiation facilities are thoroughly regulated and monitored for worker and environmental safety. Members of The American Dietetic Association (ADA) and other food, nutrition, and health professionals have a responsibility to educate consumers, food processors, manufacturers and retailers about the safety and application of the technology. When consumers are educated about food irradiation, many prefer irradiated products because of their increased safety. It is the position of ADA that food irradiation enhances the safety and quality of the food supply and helps protect consumers from foodborne illness. The ADA encourages the government, food manufactures, food commodity groups, and qualified food and nutrition professionals to work together to educate consumers about this additional food safety tool and make this choice available in the marketplace.

Consumer Product Safety↗

Overview of the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption for the dietetics professional: selected literature.

Epidemiologic evidence of a protective role for fruits and vegetables in cancer prevention is substantial. The strength of this scientific base guides US national policymaking in diet and health issues and facilitates community and local programs that address national dietary goals to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Current scientific evidence also suggests a protective role for fruits and vegetables in prevention of coronary heart disease, and evidence is accumulating for a protective role in stroke. In addition, a new scientific base is emerging to support a protective role for fruits and vegetables in prevention of cataract formation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diverticulosis, and possibly, hypertension. This article provides an overview of the health benefits associated with fruit and vegetable consumption for each of these conditions, including brief discussions of underlying protective mechanisms, identifies key scientific findings regarding the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption, and outlines applications of these findings for dietetics professionals. The evidence reviewed provides additional support for increased consumption of a wide variety of vegetables, in particular, dark-green leafy, cruciferous, and deep-yellow-orange ones, and a wide variety of fruits, in particular, citrus and deep-yellow-orange ones. Continued attention to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption is a practical and important way to optimize nutrition to reduce disease risk and maximize good health.

Cataract↗

Position of the American Dietetic Association: ethical and legal issues in nutrition, hydration, and feeding.

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that the development of clinical and ethical criteria for the nutrition and hydration of persons through the life span should be established by members of the health care team. Registered dietitians should work collaboratively to make nutrition, hydration, and feeding recommendations in individual cases. Registered dietitians have an active role in determining the nutrition and hydration requirements for individuals throughout the life span. When patients choose to forgo artificial nutrition and hydration, or when patients lack decision-making capacity, and others must decide whether or not to provide artificial nutrition and hydration, the registered dietitian has an active and responsible professional role in the ethical deliberation around that decision. There is strong clinical, ethical, and legal support both for and against the administration of food and water when issues arise regarding what is or is not wanted by the patient and what is or is not warranted by empirical clinical evidence. When a conflict arises, the decision to administer or withhold nutrition and hydration requires ethical deliberation. The registered dietitian's understanding of nutrition and hydration within the context of nutritional requirements and cultural, social, psychological, and spiritual needs provides an essential basis for ethical deliberation on issues of nutrition and hydration.

Advance Directives↗

Position of the American Dietetic Association: phytochemicals and functional foods.

Never before has the focus on the health benefits of commonly available foods been so strong. The philosophy that food can be health promoting beyond its nutritional value is gaining acceptance within the public arena and among the scientific community as mounting research links diet/food components to disease prevention and treatment. Dietitians are uniquely qualified and positioned to translate the available sound scientific evidence into practical dietary applications for the consumer and to provide the food industry and the government with valuable insight and expertise for future research, product development, and regulation of phytochemicals and functional foods. Increasing the availability of healthful foods, including functional foods, in the American diet is critical to ensuring a healthier population. As the nutrition experts, dietetics professionals must be the leaders in this new, exciting, and meaningful field as it evolves.

Diet↗

Benefits and costs of medical nutrition therapy by registered dietitians for patients with hypercholesterolemia. Massachusetts Dietetic Association.

The Massachusetts Dietetic Association implemented a statewide retrospective quality assurance audit to determine the effectiveness and cost of medical nutrition therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia (> 5.20 mmol/L). Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Data were collected at 23 sites from 285 outpatients seen by a registered dietitian for a minimum of two visits. Patients taking lipid-lowering medications were excluded. Of the 285 patients, 108 (38%) were men and 177 (62%) were women. The mean age was 51.4 years (range = 22 to 79 years). Results showed that the mean reduction in serum cholesterol level was 8.6%, which translates to a decrease of approximately 17.2% in risk of CAD. Forty-five percent of the total population showed an 11% or greater reduction in serum cholesterol levels. Reduction in serum cholesterol levels correlated with increased time spent with a dietitian (r = .188, P < .001). The mean cost for nutrition intervention with a dietitian was $163 (a mean of four visits). In contrast, the estimated annual cost of treatment for patients with hypercholesterolemia using drug therapy is $1,450. A 1993 report calculated the annual cost of treating heart disease in the United States to be $80 billion. Medical nutrition therapy should be considered the initial, effective, and low-cost approach in the management of patients with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.

Adult↗

Paucity of nutrition and food safety 'news you can use' reveals opportunity for dietetics practitioners.

The media is consistently ranked by the public as their primary source of nutrition and food information. To address the question of what the public is hearing about food, nutrition, and health through the news media, the International Food Information Council Foundation commissioned the Center for Media and Public Affairs to conduct a content analysis of nutrition and food safety stories. The study examined media coverage from 53 print and electronic news outlets during a 3-month period from May through July 1995. Specific criteria were applied to select the sample of food and nutrition stories (n = 979) by length of coverage during the reporting period. Coverage related to food policy or regulation, food programs, individual food companies or products, advertising or marketing, and economic adulteration or tampering were excluded from the sample. The analysis of media coverage of food and nutrition topics revealed a twofold emphasis on dietary fat over other topics. Consumption of dietary fat was mentioned in almost half of all reports, apart from discussions of body fat, weight, or obesity as a health issue. The content analysis also showed an inverse relationship between media stories of foods by food group compared with the recommended number of servings in the Food Guide Pyramid. During an era in which Americans receive their health, nutrition, and food messages from the media rather than from health professionals such as physicians and dietitians, there are multiple challenges for communicating with the public. Our media research and its findings offer approaches for dietetics practitioners to use when providing nutrition and food recommendations and education for clients and the public. These include communicating science, providing context, reinforcing basic messages and guidelines, and promoting action and behavior change to clients and consumers.

Advertising↗

A model for making outcomes research standard practice in clinical dietetics.

In today's rapidly changing health care environment, it is imperative that dietitians demonstrate the importance of their role as health care providers by initiating and participating in outcomes research. Patient care should be based on empirical studies, and clinical dietitians should participate in or be at the helm of such investigations. Nutrition research is usually accomplished and reported by persons with MD or PhD degrees who do not have clinical training in nutrition and does not often address situations encountered by dietitians in clinical settings. This article examines the extent to which clinical dietitians are conducting and reporting outcomes research, their attitudes about such research, and how they think they could best acquire the skills needed to incorporate outcomes research into their practice. Results indicate that clinical dietitians are not writing a substantial percentage of articles and that reports of outcomes research are not commonly included in clinical nutrition journals. Clinical dietitians appear to value the inclusion of research in clinical practice, but they are not spending a great amount of time doing research. Dietitians report being comfortable about participating in research but not about designing, conducting, and reporting research. Results from several surveys were used to develop a model for integrating research in clinical practice. This model includes the research process as a basis for clinical practice. A model for collaborative efforts between clinical and academic dietitians is also proposed and emphasizes the responsibility of academic dietetics training programs in the integration of research and clinical practice.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Position of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition standards for child-care programs.

ADA supports achievement of comprehensive nutrition standards in child-care programs. The standards presented in this position paper focus on meeting the child's nutrition needs and providing a safe and pleasant environment that promotes acquisition of eating habits that prevent disease and enable healthy growth and development. Dietetics professionals can play a powerful role in advocating and assisting the acceptance of child-care nutrition standards by parents, caregivers, foodservice personnel, and directors and policy makers for child-care programs.

Adolescent↗

Use of dietetic-specific nutritional diagnostic codes in clinical reasoning relevant to the nutritional management of core clinical outcome indicators in hemodialysis patients.

The Health Care Financing Agency (HCFA) has recommended conscientious monitoring of four core outcome indicators (anemia, albumin, treatment adequacy, and hypertension) by the end stage renal disease (ESRD) health care team. Dietetic-specific nutritional diagnostic categories (D-S NDCs) can be a powerful tool in guiding renal nutrition specialists through the clinical reasoning required to diagnose and clinically correct nutrition-related problems in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The purpose of this article is to portray one clinician's dual use of D-S NDCs to identify the nutritional problem responsible for poor performance and determine nutritionally treatable causes. Although four indicator-specific sets of D-S NDCs commonly used in the nutritional assessment of anemia, albumin, treatment adequacy and hypertension were identified and referenced, seven codes were consistently repeated. These D-S NDCs were (1) altered nutritional biochemistry integrity; (2) absence of/limited nutritional service; (3) deficit in nutrition knowledge; (4) imbalance of nutrient/fluid; (5) nutrition misinformation; (6) toxicity of nutrient/nutrient end-product; and (7) possibility of developing a specific disease. Thus, in ESRD, use of D-S NDCs shows the implicit role of the registered dietitian in disease prevention, management of altered nutrient disposition, and patient education.

Dietetics↗

An audit of the theoretical basis of education during dietetic consultations with diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: This article describes my attempts to reflect my current practice. It was conducted in order to determine which of three educational models, Empowerment, Motivational Interviewing and Helping People to Change, were being used during a diabetic dietetic consultation. METHOD: Analysis of interviews with 15 patients selected at random from an outpatient clinic was undertaken. Each consultation was assessed and relevance to steps in each model noted. RESULTS: Overall the results suggest that all three models were used for different reasons. Therefore, I conclude that any one of a number of educational approaches may be used within a consultation, as there may be elements that overlap. The different skills required by each of the models are invaluable at different times to assist patients at different phases in their life. CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of different educational models is therefore useful and has helped to clarify my practice. In future, I anticipate a more formal evaluation of the educational process to help identify steps used. These could then be formally assessed for their impact on patient outcomes, and so identify specific aspects of educational models that assist patient education and help to improve outcomes.

Clinical Competence↗

Rights-based food and nutrition perspective: 21st century challenge for dietetics.

Progress in addressing the problems of hunger and malnutrition has been slow and uneven across regions and countries of the world. A rights-based perspective, not merely a utilitarian argument, must serve as the rationale for humans to be properly nourished. Rights impose corresponding binding obligations on others and the concept of rights holders and duty bearers goes beyond the human development paradigm. The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child, alone or in community with others, has physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement. As duty bearers, governments are obligated to assure the realization of that right and accountable if the right is violated. The use of the human rights approach to adequate food necessarily implies a re-examination and fundamental changes in the way we think about hunger and malnutrition and their causes; the manner of shaping and reshaping policies; the context and processes of planning, monitoring and evaluating programmes; and the substance and method of research and education in food and nutrition. Dietitians and dietetic associations can be instrumental in making the human right to adequate food a reality.

Developing Countries↗

Controlled clinical trial of two weight reducing diets in a NHS hospital dietetic outpatient clinic - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient dietary weight reduction for obesity is unsatisfactory. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of an energy prescription diet with usual care (a healthy eating diet) in adult overweight patients referred to a NHS hospital dietetic outpatient clinic, in terms of weight change over 12 weeks. METHODS: Controlled clinical trial (systematic allocation). RESULTS: Of the 53 patients who attended their first appointment, 27 completed the trial. Mean weight loss (kg) after 12 weeks was 4.2 (sd 3.8) on the energy prescription diet (n = 16) and 6.0 (sd 2.8) on the healthy eating diet (n = 11). CONCLUSIONS: Patients on a weight reducing diet based on energy prescription or healthy eating lost, on average, clinically significant amounts of body weight by 12 weeks. Mean weight loss was greater by about 50% in the healthy eating group and supports the development of a larger trial to estimate true effect [corrected].

Adult↗

Integrating issues of sustainably produced foods into nutrition practice: a survey of Minnesota Dietetic Association members.

A survey was mailed to a representative, randomly selected sample of Minnesota Dietetic Association members (n=300) to evaluate attitudes and intentions regarding the integration of issues pertaining to sustainably produced foods into professional practice. The United States Department of Agriculture describes sustainable agriculture as including goals of farm profitability, environmental stewardship, and improved rural quality of life. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t tests, one-way ANOVA, correlations, and multiple regression analyses (P< or =.05). Forty-three percent had heard of sustainable agriculture, 13% had integrated issues of sustainably produced foods into their practice, and 20% stated that it was likely that they would incorporate these issues within the next six months. Perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, and rated importance of knowing about agricultural practices independently predicted intention. Dietitians surveyed were interested in learning more, but most were not integrating these issues into practice because of perceived barriers, including a lack of knowledge about this topic.

Adult↗

Diet and dietetics in al-Andalus.

Al-Andalus society (711-1492) based its idea of health on the wisdom of Classical Greece, the Hippocratic-Galenic theories, as well as the Persian and Hindu cultures. The twelfth century in al-Andalus is considered to be the most prolific period for works of a scientific and technical nature. At the time, the main treatises on dietetics were written and this science reached its widest expression with such leading figures as Ibn Wāfīd, Avenzoar, Averroes and Maimonides, whose works revealed the first scientific knowledge on the nutritional processes of the human body. Diet was regarded as being essential for health and the prevention of disease. Dietary guidelines were written for different age groups, different body types and different seasons of the year. The amount of food to be ingested, the number of meals recommended and the order in which the food should be consumed were all issues that were discussed. A variety of foods were thought to have medicinal properties, some of which are known today. The diet in al-Andalus was varied and very probably made a substantial contribution to the origin of the present-day Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, wholemeal cereals, fruit and vegetables, fish, lamb, poultry, nuts and spices. We also find that many of the terms in current use in diet and agriculture are a living testimony to the Arabic influence, as are many of the dishes of our varied Mediterranean gastronomy.

Diet↗