The Diverse Role of a

Dietitian: Research

Dr Mary Hickson

Senior Lecturer, Imperial College

London

• What is research?

• Who does research?

• Why should I do research?

• What makes a successful researcher?

• Research, audit and service evaluation

• The stages of research

Group work

In groups of 3-4 discuss these questions:

• What is research?

• Who does research?

• Why should I do research?

• What makes a successful researcher?

Research is the systematic investigation of a

specific question in order to establish new

facts and draw new conclusions. It

involves the discovery of new knowledge

and the interpretation and revision of

current knowledge

What is research?

Who does research?

• Use research - every health professional.

• Doing research with others leading -

helping carry out a research project;

advising on the design.

• Being part of the research team - offers a

method to find answers to problems and

improve patient care.

• Research career – PhD

• Evidence based care

• Core function of the National Health Service

• Quality improvement and improving patient experience

• Challenging, rewarding, constantly learning, multiple skills, publications and recognition…..

Why should I do research?

What makes a successful

researcher?

Environment that is:

• Research effort is valued;

• Time to undertake research activities;

• Researchers are permitted to develop a network of peer support both within and outside the organisation;

• Researcher has appropriate autonomy or guidance;

• Team working is promoted to provide local supervision and mentorship.

RESEARCH CLINICAL AUDIT SERVICE EVALUATION

New knowledge. Best care is provided. Define current care.

fill gaps in the knowledge “Does this service reach a

predetermined standard?”

“What standard does this

service achieve?”

Hypothesis based or

explores themes

Measures against a standard. Measures current service

without reference to a

standard.

Evaluating or comparing

interventions, particularly

new ones.

How interventions and

relationships are

experienced.

Involves an intervention in

use ONLY, no comparison.

Involves an intervention in

use ONLY, no comparison.

Collecting data that are

additional to those for

routine care

Analysis of existing data, but

may include simple interview

or questionnaire.

Analysis of existing data, but

may include simple interview

or questionnaire.

Involve allocating patients to

intervention groups.

Uses a clearly defined

sampling framework

underpinned by conceptual

or theoretical justifications.

No allocation to intervention

groups

No allocation to intervention

groups

May involve randomization. Does NOT involve

randomization.

Does NOT involve

randomization.

ALTHOUGH ANY OFTHESE THREE MAY RAISE ETHICAL ISSUES, UNDER CURRENT

GUIDANCE:-

Research requires

Research Ethics Committee

review.

Audit does not require

Research Ethics Committee

review.

Service evaluation does not

require Research Ethics

Committee review.

In small groups

• Describe the stages involved in developing

and completing a research project

successfully

• 5 mins

• Feedback together

Developing a research

question from an idea

Obtain funding

Write the protocol

Choosing the appropriate

methodology to answer the

research question

Gain ethical & organisational

approval

Recruit participants and obtain

their consent

Preparing for data collection

and management

Plan how to disseminate the

results

Clean, check and analyse the

data

Write a scientific paper for a

peer reviewed journal

Present the results at scientific

conference

Specific skills you need:

Searching the literature

Managing references

Critical appraisal

Specific knowledge you need:

Research Governance

Participant consent

Researching the background and

rationale and forming a

hypothesis

Specific knowledge you need:

Statistics

Section 1:

PLANNING

Section 2:

DOING

Section 3:

DISSEMINATING