PEN® eNews 5(2) 10th Anniversary Issue September 2015

technology advances in pen over the last 10 years 

PEN^® is celebrating 10 years of technological enhancements! So, we decided to take a look back at the changes to the PEN^® website since PEN^® started in 2005.  The major changes to the PEN^® knowledge database over the past 10 years has been the aesthetics of the website. Although the look of the website has greatly changed, the quality of the evidence-based and peer-reviewed content has continued to be of high caliber. After all, PEN^® does stand for Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition! As part of the first PEN^® redesign, the logo was given an upgrade from the flat blue and white logo to a more dynamic green and white logo. The PEN^® slogan was also changed from “Your Nutrition Knowledge Destination” to “The Global Resource for Nutrition Practice”. This change was to acknowledge the growing number of countries collaborating with Dietitians of Canada to adopt and enhance the PEN^® knowledge database as well as the growing reach of the PEN^® community around the world.

Although the look of the PEN^® database has changed, the organization of information as knowledge pathways has remained constant. There have been several technological additions to the database, such as My PEN^® Favourites, My PEN^® Content Alerts and the customization of handouts, which have provided users with ways to interact with the website. In addition, there are new sections within the PEN^® database, such as the toolkits and Trending Topics.

The emergence of social media has also had an influence on the PEN^® database. Links to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter were added to the website to keep our members connected and informed about new content and features in PEN^®.

Here are some screen views and commentary of the PEN website past and present:

PEN@10: Before and After screenshots  
Home Page

  Practice Questions


Search Results

 
Tools and Resources
  Sign-Up
 
Congratulations to all those who contribute to keeping the PEN^® knowledge database current and relevant to dietetic practice around the world. Here’s to another groundbreaking 10 years!

Written by
Lindsay Kole BComm PEN^®
Dietitians of Canada
Database Coordinator

3 Questions about PEN^® that you have always wanted to have answered

• What is PEN^®? Dietitians have practice-based questions. PEN^® has evidence-based answers. PEN^® is a one-stop nutrition knowledge repository to power your nutrition practice. Watch our videos to see who we are and how we help. 
• Why did we choose the name Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition? 
• How has PEN^® impacted dietetic practice? 
• What is the power of collaboration in dietetics?

 

Behind the scenes with the PEN^® Quill Group

A quill pen, made from a feather from a large flight bird, was the essential writing tool before the fountain pen. Even today some calligraphers still use them. In keeping with the “pen” theme, the international PEN^® content working group was named Quill (so named by Claire Hewat, CEO of the Dietitians Association of Australia). The PEN^® Quill group is responsible for developing and overseeing the attainment of an annual joint PEN^® content plan and the communication strategy (social media and PEN^® eNews) for the PEN^® system. PEN® content includes knowledge pathways, new practice questions, updated practice questions, professional tools, and handouts. Attaining our annual joint PEN^® content plan is a big…no HUGE job! It requires that we establish, consistently implement, monitor, adhere to and review standards and processes for creating and reviewing the evidence-based content for the PEN^® knowledge database, as well as a strategy for disseminating this content to you, our PEN^® database user.

PEN^® has 190 knowledge pathways, over 1100 practice questions and answers, over 165 background documents, 69 toolkits, 178 evidence summaries and over 3000 tools and resources.

At least one member from each partner country (Canada, United Kingdom and Australia) must be present for us to hold a meeting and we use a consensus approach to our decision-making. We host our meetings on a bimonthly schedule via teleconference. Did you know that if it is 5 am in western Canada, it is noon in Birmingham UK and 11 pm in Canberra Australia?

We’ve been meeting by teleconference for a couple of years now but the recent celebration of the 10th anniversary of PEN^® at the Dietitians of Canada conference provided the opportunity for the first ever in-person Quill meeting in beautiful Quebec City, Quebec, Canada!



Our meeting started at 7:30 am and we got right down to work!

1. While the current PEN^® grading system is robust, adopting the internationally recognized GRADE system would further enhance the PEN^® database’s credibility. We discussed the implications of implementing the GRADE system and the training and support needs of PEN^® authors and reviewers. We made the decision to implement GRADE and our internal training will begin immediately. Stay tuned for updates on what this will mean for the PEN^® database and for opportunities for dietitians to enhance their own critical appraisal skills through PEN^®-GRADE training opportunities. 
2. The layout and design of the current PEN^® website is almost 5 years old and with more people using tablets and smartphones, we needed to make PEN^® responsive to these types of devices. We reviewed mockups of the new PEN^® website and reflected on the feedback from users regarding the development of a PEN^® phone app. Look for some exciting changes to the PEN^® website in 2016! Click here for a sneak peak! 
3. Other discussions focused on strategies to put timely and relevant evidence into the hands of users through our Trending Topics (formerly News-making Evidence) service. 
4. We also had the opportunity to test the online workflow system that will assist us with tracking the content being worked on by the many PEN^® authors and reviewers from around the world. Better tracking means more content can be worked on at once which means more timely updates for our PEN^® users!
5. We discussed feedback received from our authors and reviewers that will lead to important improvements in our content development and editorial processes. 
6. We wrapped up our day with a lively discussion about PEN^® communications and marketing including our social media strategy and plans to engage with other dietetic associations around the world. 

While technology allows us to work together virtually from distant parts of the world, our first ever in-person Quill meeting strengthened the PEN global partnership through inspiration, dialogue and teamwork.


Written by:
Jayne Thirsk RD, FDC, PhD
Director, PEN^®
Dietitians of Canada
jthirsk@dietitians.ca

PEN^® users around the world provide input into design of a PEN^® app

Dietitians are expressing a growing interest in using mobile applications (apps) in their practices (1) with research to support the role of apps in improving some health behaviours (2,3). With the dietetic community expressing specific interest in access to PEN^® content through an app (2), a cross-sectional, 12 question online survey was created with our partners to gather information about how PEN^® users might use an app and what specific features would be desired.

The survey was distributed, tweeted, posted on our Facebook page and added to PEN® eNews reaching over 17,000 PEN Community members in our partnering countries at the end of March and into April, 2015. Key Findings from the 536 survey responders were:

• 84% of respondents would use a PEN^® app and there was overwhelming support for the development of an app for professionals (98% of respondents). 
• In terms of desired functions, 91.5% wanted to be able search PEN^® by topic; 87.9% by disease; 78% by Evidence Summaries; 75% to be able to access PEN^® Toolkits and their related calculators and client handouts (noting the importance of being able to print a client handout out to a local printer on a hospital ward or other clinic related area and save data to access when in a WiFi available area); and 
• 70% wanted the app to allow the professional to do nutrition assessments such as nutrient intakes; energy requirements; and BMIs. 
• Basically, professionals want access to most, if not all, of the features in PEN^®!

The PEN^® technology team has a lot on their plate at the moment, including a total redesign of the PEN^® website (as noted in the article Technological Advances in PEN® over the last 10 years). When the website work is nearing completion, they will turn their attention to using the survey feedback to inform the PEN^® app development plan. This will include refining the scope of the app and project timelines; strategies to address user access, resources (financial and human), evaluation processes, and marketing (to users and possibly other health professionals); and following-up with the 164 users who identified themselves in the survey as wanting to help with piloting the app and contributing in an advisory capacity. 

Thanks to those of you who completed our app survey and provided us with helpful information.

References:

1. Jospe MR, Fairbairn KA, Green P, Perry TL. Diet app use by sports dietitians: a survey in five countries. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2015 Jan 22;3(1):e7. doi: 10.2196/mhealth.3345. Abstract available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25616274
2. Lieffers JR, Hanning RM. Dietary assessment and self-monitoring with nutrition applications for mobile devices. Can J Diet Pract Res. 2012 Fall;73(3):e253-60. Abstract available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22958633
3. Lieffers JR, Vance VA, Hanning RM. Use of mobile device applications in Canadian dietetic practice. Can J Diet Pract Res. 2014 Spring;75(1):41-7. Abstract available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24606959

Written by Jane Bellman MEd, RD
Kerri Staden BSc, RD
PEN^® Resource Managers

a face-lift for the

PEN^®

client handout template   

Summary of results and comments from survey participants at PEN^® booth:

• Majority (77%) of those surveyed were happy with the current layout and recommended few changes. A couple of participants suggested that the font could be larger (although the current font is size 14 and if much larger would extend into more pages). 
• All respondents like the current categories of “Steps You Can Take” and “Other Considerations” versus changing to a Q&A or other format style 
• Most dietitians liked the idea of being given the choice of being able to retain or delete the Additional Resources, Notes and Distribution By box sections within a handout.
• The decision as to whether or not to embed URLs or to print out a full URL in the handout body and/or Additional Resources section was less clear, with 56% voting for embedded URLs, 36% wanting the full URL and 8% being neutral.
• Ninety per cent would use a shorter version of a handout (in addition to the current handout) if one were available. Being able to visually highlight key information for clients was deemed as helpful. (Note: a new feature enabling dietitians to customize the Notes section to add personal recommendations or set goals for clients is now available). 
• Lastly, other comments received on general content included removing references to follow Canada’s Food Guide in handouts when more specific information can be provided, more flexible search function and keywords that include common misspellings, a symptom-based search function, additional topics to develop, adding more pictures and images, change/update graphics and use modern Chinese versus traditional Chinese for translations.

We thank all dietitians who stopped by the booth and provided us with their input. We value all opinions and seriously consider all suggestions. If you did not get the opportunity and would like to comment on the current and future template, please contact us at: Kerri.staden@dietitians.ca or Jane.bellman@dietitians.ca

Written by
Jane Bellman MEd RD
Kerri Staden BSc, RD
PEN^® Resource Managers

Contact us at eNews@pennutrition.com

thank you to our PEN^® volunteers

PEN@10 Years: Past & Present Challenges and Future Opportunities for Dietitians

The Past 10 Years:

What do King Nebuchadnezzar, Johnny Depp and Archie Cochrane have in common? Where did we start to conceptualize the PEN^® service, what were the drivers and important contributors and milestones in our PEN® journey? Where did 10 years go? It was my pleasure to share the podium with Judy Bauer and Sue Kellie representing Dietitians Association of Australia and the British Dietetic Association as we shared our reflections on where PEN® has been over the last 10 years at the recent Dietitians of Canada conference in Quebec City. Take a moment to listen to our fun video presentation about our first 10 years and the PEN^® partnership’s growing reach and impact in dietetic communities around the world.

Present Challenges for Dietitians:

We’ve never seen a time when evidence has been more abundant. We’re deluged with guidance and not all of it is good quality and certainly much of it is inconsistent. We’ve also never seen so many crazy headlines promising so many ridiculous things about food and nutrition. Diverse information channels provide platforms for so many unqualified and celebrity experts with so many contradictory recommendations. This creates so much noise and confusion that the validity of all nutrition research is being questioned. Every day, all over the world, dietitians are being asked to comment on provocative media headlines, bust another crazy nutrition myth, or rule on contradictory recommendations from different clinical practice guidelines. To add to the challenge, many consumers of our advice have developed a taste for information via sound bytes or in 140 characters – certainly not the best vehicle for conveying the complexity or nuances of nutrition science.

Future Opportunities for Dietitians:

One of the principle objectives of the PEN® Global partnership is to build capacity for dietitians to become evidence connoisseurs; helping them appreciate just what makes for best evidence, how to conduct critical appraisal of research and how to communicate their assessments in ways that are meaningful to their clients and stakeholders. In the coming year, the PEN® team will transition to incorporating the GRADE system into its critical appraisal approach. Many authoritative organizations around the world are moving to this grading system. We believe its adoption by the PEN® system will enhance the rigour and transparency of our guidance. The PEN® team will work closely with the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University to develop not only a GRADE implementation plan for the PEN® system but also a training program for dietitians to learn how to use and interpret this internationally recognized critical appraisal system.

call for abstracts & workshop proposals: daa national conference 2016

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) 33rd National Conference will be held 19-21 May 2016 in Melbourne, Australia, with an expected attendance of more than 1000 nutrition and dietetic professionals, both from Australia and overseas.

Key dates to note for this upcoming conference:

Call for Abstracts, Workshops and Seminars	Now open
Workshop/seminar submission deadline	30 September 2015
Abstract submission deadline	11 November 2015
Call for late breaking abstracts	13 January 2016
Late breaking submission deadline	3 February 2016
Author registration deadline	22 March 2016

daa awards its 2015 PEN^® evidence-based practice prize  

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) awarded its first PEN^® Evidence-Based Practice Prize in 2015. This prize is awarded to Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) who demonstrate strength and commitment to evidence-based practice in a practice setting, particularly in challenging circumstances. The 2015 prize was highly competitive, exemplifying the strong commitment to evidence-based practice in Australia. 

Contact Us