For Patients
Completed studies
Outcomes of past research studies among individuals in Canada and globally
RESULTS of Recent Research Studies
1. Co-Design and Refinement of Curriculum-Based Foodbot Factory Intervention to Support Elementary School Nutrition Education (2024)
Purpose of the study. School-based nutrition education interventions can support the development of children’s food literacy and healthy eating habits. The Foodbot Factory game, available on the App Store and Google Play Store was developed to support school nutrition education based on Canada’s Food Guide and Ontario curriculum. The objective of this research was to refine the Foodbot Factory intervention to include curriculum-based lesson plans that had a high-level of acceptability by stakeholders to support implementation by teachers in classrooms.
Results. Two of five lesson plans received major revision suggestions. Proposals of new learning activities for students and suggested additional background content on nutrition topics for teachers were also made. The teachers contributed ideas to improve the feasibility of implementing the intervention, such as adding information on lesson preparation times and resources for teachers to consider when teaching nutrition. Meanwhile, the dietitians provided suggestions on educational content suitability, emphasized the importance of using neutral language for food, and ensured the language used was consistent with CFG.
Through the co-design process, we learned that teachers require more overarching information on how to teach the nutrition unit, beyond the content contained in the five daily nutrition education lessons. Given the novelty of Foodbot Factory, they also required more information about the serious game itself and its features, to promote future implementation. Therefore, the research team and stakeholders developed a repository of supporting information within the Foodbot Factory lessons plans, including guidance on teaching nutrition, accommodations for students, references to the curriculum, and a summary of Foodbot Factory’s accessibility features.
In the final evaluation of the lesson plans, all stakeholders reported that the lesson plans were acceptable and would be effective in supporting student learning. They found the intervention materials cohesive and they believed teachers would feel confident implementing the intervention. The time burden for implementation was mentioned, as teachers would need to take more time to learn how to use the serious game prior to implementation compared to a non-technology-based learning tool. However, it was acknowledged that the extra time taken for teachers would be worthwhile to provide a more interactive, engaging, and comprehensive learning experience for students.
You can learn more about these findings in our lab’s recent paper published in Nutrients. Read the full study here.
2. The implementation of non-weight focused approaches in clinical practice: A Canadian cross-sectional study among registered dietitians (2024)
Purpose of the study. An increasing number of dietitians use non-diet approaches, referred to as non-weight focused practice approaches, in clinical practice when working with higher weight adult clients. However, the factors that impact dietitians’ ability to successfully implement these approaches in practice are unknown.
We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among Canadian registered dietitians who work with higher weight adults to identify barriers and facilitators with respect to implementing non-weight focused practice approaches.
Results. The results showed that, among participants (n = 383; 82% white; 95% women) the most important barriers for implementation of non-weight focused practice approaches were 1) clients’ focus on weight as an outcome, 2) when losing weight is a condition to access enhanced services, 3) nrequiring changes to their practice philosophy, 4) difficulty funding professional development and not having sufficient skills or knowledge to implement NWFAs in practice. Top-rated facilitators included 1) the use of clinical guidelines, 2) scientific publications and educational materials, which were rated with higher agreement across all implementation stages.
You can learn more about these findings in our lab’s recent paper published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Read the full study here.
3. Factors impacting the uptake of dietary sodium research into sodium reduction policies in five Latin American countries: A Qualitative Study (2023)
Purpose of the study. Diets high in sodium are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Latin American countries consume more than double the recommended sodium levels. Research uptake in dietary sodium reduction policies has been inconsistent in Latin American Countries, and the factors impacting research uptake are largely unknown. This study aimed to describe the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of research into sodium reduction policies from a funded research consortium with 5 Latin American Countries (Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Peru).
Researchers and policy makers in these Latin American Countries were interviewed one-on-one.
Results. Key barriers to policy advancements included 1) conflicts of interest from the food industry and some government actors; 2) government turnover resulting in policy and personnel changes; 3) a lack of human and financial resources; and 4) and communication gaps among key actors. Key facilitators to policy advancement included: 1) the content and quality of health economic, food supply, and qualitative data; 2) support, technical assistance, and alliances with the government, non-governmental organizations, and international experts; and 3) researchers enhanced skillsets facilitated with communication and dissemination with policymakers.
You can learn more about these findings in our lab’s recent paper published in Current Developments in Nutrition. Read the full study here.
4. Healthcare provider perspectives on using mobile apps to support heart failure management (2022)
Purpose of the study. Heart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body. Many patients have difficulty following the medical and diet therapies recommended by their healthcare providers, resulting in severe symptoms and hospitalizations. Evidence suggests that using mobile apps on cellphones and tablets is a possible way to help individuals with heart failure better adhere to their therapies.
However, healthcare provider views on using such apps is unknown. Our research team sought to fill this gap through a qualitative approach using telephone interviews. We interviewed 21 healthcare providers across Canada, including cardiologists and nurses, about their needs, motivations, and challenges on the use of mobile apps to support patients with heart failure management.
Results. Our study captured healthcare provider views through 5 themes. Healthcare providers identified factors impacting app adoption such as patient age, tech savviness, access to technology, and healthcare provider workload burden. They felt that apps could increase efficiency of care by providing remote and timely care, collect, share, and assess health information, limit clinic visits, saving patients’ time and money. They also felt that apps can provide education on diet and medication and involve patients in their care by providing feedback and reinforcement. We also found app features like reminders and alarms, and quizzes to be considered useful among healthcare providers. Our findings can be used to inform the development of future mHealth apps for heart failure management.
You can learn more about these findings in our lab’s recent paper published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Cardio. Read the full study here.
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