EVIDENCE- BASED?
Okay now you’ve probably seen or heard dietitians going on about how they are an evidence-based profession. That’s all well and good but what does that mean?
Evidence-based means that the information and strategies we use in patient care are based on sound research, not opinion.
So, this means rather than just having “read it somewhere” or “feeling like it may work as it worked on my auntie”, the dietary therapies that we work with have been tested and shown to be safe and effective…i.e., to work in enough people, consistently, to say it’s a worthwhile treatment.
Even the research has to be decent. Just reading one study using a small amount of people and saying “well there is the proof” just won’t cut it. For something to be considered a good level of evidence, we look for large studies, consistent results, good research protocols, any bias, peer review, reputable sources and more! So, with “evidence based” practice, we have spent time looking through and analysing ALL of the research on a topic before making crucial decisions about the advice we bring to you. And don’t worry, we are not “nutri-bots”, we then also think about the person behind the research and science before we write guidelines. We care about making sure we give you the best and most worthwhile dietary therapy.
If you went to a dietitian or any other health professional, wouldn’t you like to know that they are advising something that has been shown to work?
Let’s put it into context. If someone you met on a bus told you they were an expert and had invented a new medicine which hadn’t been tested but the inventor felt very strongly it would work for you and had tested it on one person and they were fine- would you take the medicine or wait until it had been rigorously tested?
Thought so! Trust a Dietitian.
