Infuse Infuse 9 September 2019 | Page 26

ADVERTORIAL
Supported by Nestlé Health Science
Knowing this, a group of Queensland
dietitians have developed a range
of measures to support dietitians
and other health professionals to
translate evidence into their practice.
Our colleagues told us they needed
training aimed at a foundation level and
presented to them online using short
snippets to fit in their busy work days 1 .
We also knew from our experience
and local research, that dietitians
need regular support and mentoring
to implement change 2 . This led us
to develop AH-TRIP – Allied Health
Translating Research into Practice, a
free online training program informed
by science that aims to equip health
professionals to translate research
into practice 3 .
We have since applied the AH-TRIP
approach to make significant improvements
to the mealtime experience and nutritional
intake of older hospital patients. Rather
than assume the problem of poor mealtime
assistance was poor nursing knowledge
about patient assistance needs (as the
“red tray” intervention assumes), we used
audit and interviews with patients and
staff to understand the real problem. Using
local and international research evidence,
our team developed mealtime assistance
and foodservice interventions including
“assisted mealtimes”, fortified meals and
snacks, and oral nutritional supplements.
We implemented these in a way that
overcame local barriers such as competing
priorities at mealtimes, demands on
nursing time and tight foodservice budgets.
Key to our success was embedding
our mealtime improvements in the
Eat Walk Engage program, which is a
multidisciplinary program to improve care
of older people in hospital. Our efforts
have paid off – patients are now eating
20% more energy and protein, and are
consistently receiving timely assistance
with their meals 4 , even now, nearly five
years post-implementation.
Above example: The AH-TRIP initiative is a training
package designed to prepare clinicians to plan and
undertake a translational research project in their
practice.
© Dietitian Connection
If you’re currently implementing a
practice change, and feeling a little lost
or overwhelmed, you’re not alone! There
are tools and training resources available
to help, so come try AH-TRIP with us, and
make the process of translating research
into practice that little bit easier.
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Infuse | September 2019