Propelling the Profession with Outcomes and Evidence: Building a Robust Research Agenda at the Academy

Abstract

Though the origins of evidence-based medicine are generally acknowledged as dating back to Dr Ernest Codman’s development of the first bone registry in 1920, outcomes studies took decades to radiate to other health disciplines, as practitioners grappled with the difficulties of implementing protocols and gathering meaningful data. 1 McGinnis L.S. Common origins: The two ACSs—100 years of collaboration to improve the lives of cancer patients. Bull Am Coll Surg. 2012; 97: 6-15 PubMed Google Scholar Today, research represents the backbone in dietetics and across health care disciplines, as the need to discover and verify causations and develop new therapies to improve public health and care delivery via clinical and scientific inquiry represents a priority role of the highest order. 2 Manore M.M. Myers E.F. Research and the dietetics profession: Making a bigger impact. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003; 103: 108-112 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar , 3 Nass SJ, Levit LA, Gostin LO, eds. The value, importance, and oversight of health research. In: Beyond the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Enhancing Privacy, Improving Health Through Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2009. National Center for Biotechnology Information website. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9571/. Accessed October 8, 2014. Google Scholar , 4 King C. Byham-Gray L. O’Sullivan-Maillet J. et al. Dietitians and research: Facilitating involvement—History of dietitian involvement in dietetics research in the U.S. Top Clin Nutr. 2014; 29: 227-238 Crossref Scopus (11) Google Scholar Since the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ∗ Until January 2012, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics was known was the American Dietetic Association; throughout this document, it will be called “the Academy.” ∗Until January 2012, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics was known was the American Dietetic Association; throughout this document, it will be called “the Academy.” was founded, its leaders intended that the profession be rooted in science. In its role as “research advocate, facilitator, convener, funder, educator, and disseminator,” 4 King C. Byham-Gray L. O’Sullivan-Maillet J. et al. Dietitians and research: Facilitating involvement—History of dietitian involvement in dietetics research in the U.S. Top Clin Nutr. 2014; 29: 227-238 Crossref Scopus (11) Google Scholar the Academy has demonstrated a longstanding investment in identifying the impact of nutrition on disease risk factors and treatment outcomes, presenting it to stakeholders to influence public policy, and translating it to practice to yield many more programs and opportunities for nutrition and dietetics practitioners.