Session 1: Top tips for reading and reviewing a paper
Dr Caroline Childs
Dr Caroline Elizabeth Childs BSc (Hons) PhD RNutr, Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Southampton, led a one-hour session introducing the key methodology for reading and reviewing a paper. Click the buttons below to download the discussion paper and view the recording – you’ll need to provide your name and email address. You’ll receive a CPD certificate within two weeks of watching the full session.
Virtually all scientific papers can be accessed online via sci-hub (including this one).
Session 1 details and slides
CONTENT AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Clear understanding of:
- The pathway by which research is conducted and published
- The language of research study designs
- The hierarchy of evidence to consider when comparing study designs
Be aware of:
- Tools which are available to assist with structured critical appraisal
- The challenges and limitations inherent within nutrition research
Be able to:
- Consider potential sources of bias in both research and media reporting of research
- Consider the context of research conducted and how you can appropriately integrate this into your own practice
Slides from the session are available to keep for your records.
About Journal Club Chair, Dr Caroline Childs
Each Journal Club session is chaired by Dr Caroline Childs, Nutrition and Metabolism subject lead in Medicine at the University of Southampton. She received student-nominated awards for ‘most engaging lecturer’ and ‘best pastoral support’ and a colleague-nominated award for teaching excellence. Dr Childs is a Nutrition Society Ambassador and a South East Regional Representative for the Association for Nutrition.
As she says, “Developing skills in critical appraisal is an essential part of being a competent nutrition professional – whether you’re a dietitian, nutritionist or health professional specialising in nutrition.”
Session 2: Energy content of frequently purchased restaurant meals
Dr Sue Reeves, Head of Undergraduate Studies and Student Experience, Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton.
The session discusses Dr Susan B Roberts’ 2018 paper Measured energy content of frequently purchased restaurant meals: multi-country cross sectional study BMJ.
Virtually all scientific papers can be accessed online via sci-hub (including this one).
Session 2 Details and Slides
CONTENT AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Clear understanding of:
- Different ways to approach reading a scientific journal paper
- The defining features of cross-sectional studies
Be aware of:
- Limitations of cross-sectional studies
- Potential sources of bias in the reporting of research studies
Be able to:
- Read and critique a scientific paper
- Consider the context of the research conducted
Slides from the session are available to keep for your records.
About Expert Reviewer Dr Sue Reeves
Dr Sue Reeves is the Head of Undergraduate Provision and Student Experience in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Roehampton. She is a Senior Fellow of the HEA, a Registered Nutritionist and Fellow of the AfN, where she is also a CPD assessor and Regional Rep.
Session 3: Session 3: The common cold – could probiotics help?
Dr Gemma Walton, Lecturer in Metagenomics, University of Reading.
The session discusses Michael de Vrese’s 2006 paper Probiotic bacteria reduced duration and severity but not the incidence of common cold episodes in a double blind, randomized, controlled trial. It explores common cold incidence with and without probiotic intervention was explored – an interesting study that deserves re-visiting.
Virtually all scientific papers can be accessed online via sci-hub (including this one).
Session 3 Details and Slides
CONTENT AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Clear understanding of:
- The gut bacteria
- What probiotics can do
Be aware of:
- Sample size
- Different strains of probiotics
- Outcomes
Be able to:
- Consider human trials in probiotics
- Consider study outcomes
Slides from the session are available to keep for your records.
About Expert Reviewer Dr Gemma Walton
Gemma Walton has been studying the gut microbiota for the last 18 years. Research interests include how the gut bacteria can impact on our health and how we can modulate this community.
Session 4: Can a mobile app improve nutrition for women before and during pregnancy?
Dr Sarah Hillier, Course Leader for the Applied Human Nutrition Programme at Solent University, Southampton. Chaired by Dr Caroline Childs
This session will discuss the May 2020 article exploring the effectiveness of the Smarter Pregnancy app designed by the Erasmus Medical Centre team in the Netherlands. The lifestyle intervention app aims to empower women to adapt a healthy diet prior to conception and during early pregnancy.
Virtually all scientific papers can be accessed online via sci-hub (including this one).
Session 4 Details and Slides
CONTENT AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Clear understanding of:
- The effects of poor nutrition on pregnancy and maternal outcomes
- The effectiveness of nutrition lifestyle apps for supporting healthy eating
Be aware of:
- Pre-trial protocol publications
- Conflicts of interest
- Limitations of mobile apps
Be able to:
- Critically analyse a Randomised Control Trial
- Consider how/if this research may be used in practice
Slides from the session are available to keep for your records.
About Expert Reviewer Dr Sarah E. Hillier
Dr Sarah E. Hillier is the Course Leader for the Applied Human Nutrition Programme at Solent University, Southampton. She is a Fellow of the HEA, a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) and a regional rep for London & SE. Sarah believes Purbeck Honeycomb Hash is the best ice cream in the world.
Session 5: Time-restricted eating for obesity management
Dr Fatima Perez de Heredia, PhD, FHEA, Senior Lecturer in Physiology, Liverpool John Moores University. Chaired by Dr Caroline Childs
Time-restricted eating (TRE) has become a very popular method for managing body weight, but the scientific evidence is not conclusive. This Journal Club session will review a recently-published article ‘Effect of time restricted eating on body weight and fasting glucose in participants with obesity: results of a randomized, controlled, virtual clinical trial’, with a discussion about the pros and cons of TRE.
We will be covering tools and techniques to help you best understand and appraise this research paper, through both the critical examination and discussion led by our nutrition guest expert and chaired by Dr Caroline Childs.
Virtually all scientific papers can be accessed online via sci-hub (including this one).
Session 5 Details and Slides
CONTENT AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Clear understanding of:
- Time-restricted feeding/eating (TRE)
- Alleged metabolic benefits of fasting and/or TRE
Be aware of:
- Experimental conditions under COVID-19 pandemic
- Characteristics of the control group
- Characteristics of the dietary intervention
Be able to:
- Understand the protocol of the intervention
- Understand the data analysis
- Understand basic physiological principles underlying TRE
Slides from the session are available to keep for your records.
About Expert Reviewer Dr Fatima Perez de Heredia
Dr Fatima Perez de Heredia, PhD, FHEA, is Senior Lecturer in Physiology at the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University. She is a biologist passionate about the physiology of nutrition, obesity and adipose tissue. She is particularly fascinated by the links between nutritional status, adiposity and inflammation.
Her current research looks into a dietary and exercise intervention for improving body composition and cardiometabolic risk in cardiac rehabilitation patients.
Once you have viewed a full recorded session the mynutriweb team will review and arrange to send you your certificate via email from hello@mynutriweb.com within two weeks of viewing the session.
CPD CERTIFICATE & LEARNING MATERIALS
This season has been CPD approved by the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and the Association for Nutrition (AfN).
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