XNB346 Nutrition Therapy Counselling and Practice 1

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Medical nutrition therapy explores the role of the dietitian in individual case management settings. You will be introduced to the theory and practical application of evidence-based nutritional care across a number of clinical conditions. The unit will focus on application of the nutrition care process (assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation) across a range of social, cultural and religious contexts, underpinning further development of medical nutrition therapy and the management of client centred nutrition care for individuals and small groups.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe and apply the nutrition care process across selected medical conditions in diverse social and cultural contexts. [XN43, XN45 CLO-1]
2. Explain the diet-disease process using appropriate terminology for diverse contexts. [XN43, XN45 CLO-3]
3. Collect, discern and interpret relevant information from a variety of sources to inform person-centred care. [XN43, XN45 CLO-2,3]
4. Plan and evaluate evidence based nutrition interventions and translate into practical food-based recommendations. [XN43, XN45 CLO-4]
5. Assess inter, intrapersonal and professional communication skills to interpret technical food and nutrition information for individuals and groups. [XN43, XN45 CLO-3,4]
6. Demonstrate academic and professional core skills including critique, reflection, ethical practice, team work, collaboration and critical cultural consciousness. [XN43, XN45 CLO-4]

Content

Learning Approaches

Your learning in this unit will be facilitated by both on campus activities and online lecture material. You will be expected to engage with this online content prior to weekly on campus sessions. The detail of which will be communicated to you on the Canvas site. The on campus sessions will include food laboratories, simulation clinics, clinical case studies and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities including site visits and observations in Queensland Health facilities and the QUT Health Clinics. The quality of your learning within this unit will be dependent upon your engagement with the online content and its application in the experiential sessions. Your learning from this unit will contribute to the development of your professional practice.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

In each experiential activity you will be provided with feedback from your peers and academic staff. Each week you will be required to reflect on your learning and this will be shared with the group. Your tutor will also provide comments on these reflections. Online quizzes will provide an opportunity for you to gauge your understanding of the content.

Assessment

Overview

Assignment information included on Canvas provides detailed criteria and tasks for completion of the assignment which you can check your work against to ensure all aspects are completed. Formative assessment in the form of case studies will identify areas needing improvement prior to the completion of the final assessment.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

This written assessment will require completion of two case studies demonstrating the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the application of the nutrition care process. These tasks will simulate the structured process used by dietitians to evaluate the nutrition problems of individual clients and will involve your detailed assessment of anthropometric, biochemical, physiological and nutrition data and the development of a nutrition intervention and monitoring plan for the client. These case studies will include a variety of social, cultural and religious contexts and the medical conditions explored in lectures, food-based workshops and the activities undertaken in field experiences. You will receive detailed feedback on your first case study that will assist you in the development of your critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the second more complex case study. The case studies will be presented in a structured template (approximately 1200 words each).

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Nutrtition group education session portfolio

You will complete a portfolio which will comprise a (15 minute) video recording of yourself delivering a  nutrition education session to a target group (audience) and provide a written reflection based on your performance and the written structured feedback on your performance provided to you by a student peer. You will also act as a member of the audience for the nutrition education session of a student peer so you can provide the written structured feedback on their performance and include this in your portfolio.

The group education session simulates a mode of education delivery regularly used by nutrition professionals and will demonstrate your knowledge of the nutrition care process and the application of practical food based advice. The topics for the education session will be based on common nutrition issues for diverse client groups, including a variety of social, cultural and religious contexts.  You will use communication theory and knowledge of the nutrition problems and conditions explored in lectures, food based workshops and the activities undertaken in field experiences. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

You will be required to meet mandatory requirements including those for vaccination and suitability for working with special groups, please see the Workplace Integrated Learning website for further details.

Blue Card

A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Kathleen Mahan, L.K., and Raymond, J.L. (Editors). (2017). Krause's food and the nutrition care process (14th edition). St Louis, MO Elsevier/Saunders.

Holli, B., and Beto, J. (2017). Communication and education skills for dietetics professionals (7th edition). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott-Williams & Wilkins.

Stewart, R. (Editor). (2015). Handbook of clinical nutrition and dietetics. (5th edition). Newstead, Brisbane, Australian Dietitian.

Recommended text(s)

Escott-Stump, S. (2015). Nutrition and diagnosis-related care (8th edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

Risk Assessment Statement

As noted above, assessment for this unit will involve a workplace-based assignment. You are expected to be aware of and abide by the health and safety requirements of the workplace. You are also expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate.

This unit will involve workshop classes that will be held in a food laboratory area. You will be required to attend the induction session at the commencement of the semester where the safety precautions to be observed while working in the laboratory will be outlined. You are required to read the laboratory safety manual and sign the form indicating that you have read and understood the material contained in the manual. You are required to wear the prescribed safety and hygiene clothing at all lab-based sessions. For the purposes of this requirement, you must wear safe flat, closed in footwear, a long-sleeved chef's jacket, and protective headwear a hair net. Hair nets will be provided in class.

In addition, substantial computer-based work will be required.