Practice papers provide key opportunities for critical reasoning and quality improvement in dietetics practice. They include peer-reviewed perspectives from content experts, employers and alliance groups of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Practice papers are available to Academy members as a member benefit.
Index
- Addressing Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (March 2011)
This article provides an in-depth look at the recommendations put forth by the IOM, offers discipline specific recommendations consistent with those outlined in the IOM model and introduces other models that may be of use as food and nutrition practitioners move forward with developing strategies to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.
- Communicating Accurate Food and Nutrition Information (May 2012)
Consumers are increasingly interested in food and nutrition information and the channels for receiving information are expanding at a fast pace. New opportunities are available for registered dietitians (RDs) to reach diverse audiences with credible nutrition messages. RDs must actively take steps to position themselves as reliable sources of science-based food and nutrition information and communicate through a variety of new media and traditional channels. This paper provides information to help RDs evaluate nutrition research, stay abreast of the latest food and nutrition information and effectively communicate science-based information in a variety of formats.
- Home Care-Opportunities for Food and Nutrition Professionals (June 2009)
Home care continues to expand. With this growth are opportunities for registered dietitians to demonstrate the vital role that they play not only in providing optimal nutrition care, but also in contributing to each patient's quality of life.
- Individualized Nutrition Approaches for Older Adults in Health Care Communities (October 2010)
This practice paper supports the Position of the American Dietetic Association "Individualized Nutrition Approaches for Older Adults in Health Care Communities" (October 2010) Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The Academy advocates the use of qualified food and nutrition practitioners to assess and evaluate the need for nutrition care according to each person's individual medical condition, needs, desires and rights, and that the quality of life and nutritional status of older adults residing in health care communities can be enhanced by individualization to less-restrictive diets. The expansion of health care communities creates a multitude of options for RDs and dietetic technicians, registered, to promote the role of good food and nutrition in the overall quality of life for the older adults they serve.
- Nutrient Density: Meeting Nutrient Goals within Calorie Needs (May 2007)
The purposes of this paper are to summarize the current understanding of nutrient density, provide a brief history of approaches to assessing the nutrient quality of foods, identify issues related to the development of a more precise definition of nutrient dense foods and provide guidance to dietetics practitioners for using the current concept of nutrient density to improve the food choices of patients, students, clients and consumers.
- Nutrition Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disorders (August 2011)
This paper provides concrete ideas about the role of the RD working with people diagnosed with eating disorders (EDs) as well as updates on current research and controversies within the eating disorders field, which serve to inform RDs about their role with this unique population. This paper supports the Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics "Nutrition Intervention in the Treatment of Eating Disorders" published in the August 2011 Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
- Systems Approach to Measuring Productivity in Health Care Foodservice Operations (January 2005)
The purpose of this paper is to provide background theory and history, which underlies the study of productivity, and suggest outcome measures to monitor productivity, methods of record keeping and reporting productivity, and a case study better to understand productivity.
- Using the Dietary Reference Intakes (May 2011)
The Dietary Reference Intakes, a set of nutrient reference standards developed for the United States and Canada by the Institute of Medicine, provide tools for dietary assessment and planning for individuals and groups. This paper offers practical guidelines for appropriate application of the DRIs, and to better recognize both the benefits and challenges associated with their use. Ultimately, utilization of more comprehensive methods of assessing and planning nutrient intakes has the potential to further enhance recognition of registered dietitians' essential roles in nutrition care.
About Position and Practice Papers
The Academy authorizes republication of position papers in their entirety provided full and proper credit is given. Permission is given for readers to share, forward, copy and/or distribute position and practice papers (in their entirety) providing such distribution is not used to indicate an endorsement of a product or service. Commercial distribution is not permitted without the permission of the Academy. Requests to use portions of a paper or requests for hard copies of a paper may be requested by e-mailing your name, address and position title to ppapers@eatright.org.
Position and practice papers are written by health professionals who possess thorough and current knowledge of the topic. Qualified authors, reviewers of the draft papers and content advisors must submit an application and disclose any duality of interest prior to being selected to work on a new or existing position.
View Position Papers »