From the Editor Volume 59, Number 1, March 2002

From the Editor Welcome to the first issue of our Journal published under its new name Nutrition & Dietetics, the Journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia. This will be a very exciting year for the Journal. As you can see we have a new cover. I hope you will find it distinctive on the library shelf. The move to perfect binding should help with finding the right issue when perusing your bookshelves. Throughout the year you will see further new features introduced in the Journal. The primary aim remains to publish the highest quality work in nutrition and dietetic research, reviews, policy and continuing education. The editorial by Truswell aptly addresses the issue of quality of nutrition information. The application of evidence-based nutrition to dietetic policy and practice is examined. In the leading article Ash continues and expands the theme of our leading article published last issue, urging us to harness our passion by breaking new horizons and to make research a part of our everyday practice. The article complements the paper by Daniels 'A bright future for dietitians-where is the evidence'. This paper was originally presented as the Lecture in Honour of Ms Una Venn-Brown oration at the conference of the Dietitians Association of Australia in 2001. Daniels discusses why dietitians must build their research capacity and participation, examines gains and potential barriers and suggests strategies to facilitate participation. She concludes that an active and growing research profile is essential if dietetics is to remain a credible, viable and competitive profession. The editorial by Truswell makes the importance of evidence-based practice clear. Daniels asks who is to provide the evidence for the practice of dietetics if not the profession itself. I hope the challenge of this article is adopted by all. McCarty and colleagues report on the nutrient intakes of Victorians aged 44 years and older. More than half the population consumed less than the daily recommended dietary intake of vitamins A and E, calcium and magnesium and iron intake was low in women aged between 44 and 54 years. Sixty-nine per cent of the population consumed greater than 30% of their energy intake as fat and the mean intake of saturated fat was greater than 12% of total energy intake. They suggest more public health campaigns to help increase the consumption of low fat foods rich in calcium, iron and anti-oxidants are warranted. Little has been published about the methods of education of dietitians in Australia. This is why I am so pleased we have two articles in this issue. Torres and her colleagues at Deakin University relate the experiences of students during their final clinical placement. This includes, the type of and time spent in, direct patient contacts and other dietetic activities. It also indicates the time spent by supervisors in direct observation of students. This information may be helpful to both university educators and dietitians involved in student training in planning for the practical placement for students. In another article, the Deakin group report on their experiences with a problem-based approach to the clinical education of dietetic students. Many medical courses in Australia have been using this approach for some years and while improvement in knowledge and clinical skills has yet to be demonstrated, students and staff express many positive attributes of this model of learning. Winter and colleagues found that students thought the method helped them integrate their basic knowledge with the management of patient cases. The academic staff found this teaching format enjoyable and the dietitians concerned with the hospital placements were supportive of the teaching method. This article should prove useful for other educators. Hasssapidou and colleagues have examined the nutrient intakes and anthropometric characteristics of adolescent Greek swimmers. They report that they had an inappropriate diet and suggest more education is required. Our Insight article by Ashton and Hehir from the Queensland division of the National Heart Foundation of Australia reports on their experience working with a private partner organisation. Unfortunately, the venture did not achieve the desired outcomes but there are valuable lessons to be learnt from reading their article. As dietitians and nutritionists are urged to work with organisations outside the health sector they must do so in an informed manner. The process of the partnership itself warrants almost as much attention as the actual project. This issue also includes a report by Irwin concerning the DAA perspective on nutrition labelling. Our retrospective article is the second by Farrer and details developments in food science in Australia from 1940 to 1970. Our continuing education quiz addresses the growing problem of obesity. Are you as well informed as you believe with respect to this area of dietetic practice? Our usual sections on book reviews, other journal articles of interest and future events are all included. I hope you enjoy reading our new look journal. While there is great excitement about the developments with the Journal there is also some regret. This will be the last issue for our Managing Editor, Kerry Moir. She leaves the Journal to take up a new position with the National Archives of Australia. Kerry has been with the Journal since DAA began publishing it almost fifteen years ago. She has been a major force overseeing the development of the Journal. I believe she has some regrets leaving at this time of change for the Journal but one must take new opportunities when they present and we all wish her well in her new position. Margaret Allman-Farinelli Editor