New knowledge and applied research are needed to examine our scholarship and contribute to the science of nutrition. The authors in this issue have worked hard to generate new knowledge, ask questions, and answer them. These projects are organized in 2 sections: Highlights of Dietetics Practice Trends and Dietetic Practice Projects.
Kotkin and Enrione address an issue that impacts dietetic education and practice, job responsibilities, and activities of 2 comparative groups of dietitians. Of the more than 2300 dietitians reporting job performance data, 88% reported staff responsibility and that they did not supervise others. Years of experience more than educational level seem to affect responsibility and supervision in dietetic practice.
Implementation of the nutrition care process (NCP) into dietetic practice has been a major objective of the American Dietetic Association. Krantz, Cotugna, and Manning conducted an online pilot study about the use of the NCP with 36 participants. They found that only 50% of the clinical and long-term care facilities in this survey had fully implemented the NCP into daily practice.
Hongu and colleagues provide a review of dietary assessment tools that use mobile technology. The review examines some of the challenges and opportunities of applying various tools. They also highlight the Recaller, a mobile phone application for use in clinical dietetic settings.
Berhaupt-Glickstein and Enrione examined the concept of "functional foods" as perceived by dietitians. Close to 400 dietitians responded on their perceptions, attitudes, and practices surrounding functional foods. There were a number of inconsistencies. A consensus on definition and professional education of registered dietitians was recommended by the authors.
A blood pressure study by Hirshberg and colleagues examined the potential impact of dietary sugar components for chronic disease risk factors using dietary recalls, and other surveys and anthropometric and laboratory measurements. More than 250 college students participated in the study. The authors found elevated risk factors from the consumption of fructose and sugar-sweetened beverages and encouraged further studies to investigate the effect of nutrition interventions on chronic disease factors in college students.
Fifty-six medical residents participated in an online survey about enteral nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practice. Westfal et al. found that 90% considered enteral nutrition important in critical care settings. More research should be conducted to elucidate some of the discrepancies in responses.
Sojcher has reviewed 2 integrative medicine treatments, yoga and acupuncture, and their potential for alleviating obesity and binge eating disorder. Evidence is more supportive for yoga than acupuncture, but further research should be conducted with humans along with combined approaches to obesity.
Niland et al. looked at an intervention in a college dining service to increase the fruit and vegetable consumption of those who used the facility. Table tents were designed to motivate consumption by the participants along with a pre- and posttest. The online pre- and posttests indicated that table tents may be effective, with suggestions for improving the design in future studies.
We thank the 2011 reviewers for their contributions to Topics in Clinical Nutrition. The editorial board expresses its gratitude for a successful year of practice-based articles submitted by our dedicated authors, refined and refereed by our reviewers, and interpreted and applied by our readers. Thanks to all of you for another great year for the journal, Topics in Clinical Nutrition.
-Judith A. Gilbride, PhD, RD, FADA
Editor