A Nutrition Educator’s Guide to Implementation Science

Nutrition educators have the important job of translating evidence-based nutrition research into educational strategies that promote healthy food choices. This is a tall order for nutrition educators, considering it takes an average of 17 years for evidence-based practices to be implemented into routine practice! Implementation science is the scientific study of methods and strategies to facilitate the uptake of research into regular use, and strategies from this field can help nutrition educators to close the research-to-practice gap. In this session, attendees will hear from three nutrition researchers who will share practical implementation strategies for registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered. By the end of this session, attendees will be able to define implementation science terminology, describe implementation science principles to help close the research-to-practice gap, and apply implementation science concepts into everyday practice.

Planned with the Nutrition Education for the Public Dietetic Practice Group

CPE Level: Level 2 (intermediate knowledge/experience)
CPEU: 1

Performance Indicators

• 4.2.5 Analyzes and synthesizes information and identifies new information, patterns and findings.
• 6.1.1 Identifies gaps in evidence to determine research priorities.
• 6.1.2 Uses established benchmarking to inform practice.

Learning Objectives

• Define implementation science terminology
• Describe implementation science principles that can help nutrition educators close the research-to-practice gap in various practice settings
• Apply implementation science concepts into everyday nutrition and dietetics practice

Moderator

• Moderator: Kaley Carman, PhD, RDN, LDN

Speakers

• Speaker: Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, PhD, RD, FAND
• Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD, FTOS
• Karla P. Shelnutt, PhD, RDN