Dietitians of Canada

Evidence-Based Decision Making - Course Synopsis:

About the course:

Evidence-based decision-making refers to making decisions that affect client/patient care based on the best available evidence. This course is designed to improve your ability to find, appraise and use evidence appearing in the health sciences literature and learn rules of evidence supporting decisions in health care.

An evidence-based approach can be applied to health policy making, public health, systems-level decisions as well as those involving individual client care. Experiential learning is emphasized with many nutrition-specific cases and appraisal exercises featured throughout the course.

Here is what past course participants have said about the course:

“The course is really incredible and the skills I developed will definitely pay off in the near future. DC's done a great job with this course.” - Michael Lankin

“What a wonderful course. I wish there was a way to convince all dietitians to take it. I loved the presentations, the readings and the book! I’m just so impressed.” – Heather Petrie

The course will run from May 14th, 2012 to December 14th, 2012.

 

Click here for the course overview

Why is it important to base decisions on evidence?

Evidence-informed decision making is an important element of quality care in all domains of dietetic practice. It is essential to optimize outcomes for clients/patients, improve practice, achieve cost-effective nutritional care, and ensure accountability and transparency in decision making. Evidence-informed practice helps to distinguish evidence from propaganda, probability from certainty, data from assertions, rational belief from superstitions and science from folklore.

Who should take this course?

This course is geared towards dietitians working in clinical or community practice. Many of the scenarios included in this course are clinical in nature but several readings and interactivities have been added to ensure that community dietitians have relevant materials for study and application to their practice setting.

Course objectives

These evidence-based approaches can be applied to health policy making, public health, systems-level decisions and individual client care. Experiential learning is emphasized with several nutrition-specific cases and appraisal exercises featured throughout the course.

This course is designed to:

• Improve your ability to find, appraise and use evidence appearing in the health sciences literature
• Learn rules of evidence supporting decisions and what works in health care

 

Introductory course (modules 1-4, minimum time required: 15 hrs)

Those wishing to learn the basic concepts of evidence-based decision making can do so by registering for the first 4 modules. This course will introduce participants to the basic concepts and controversies of evidence-based practice.

Intermediate course (modules 5-9, minimum time required: 35 hrs)

Those who completed the introductory course in the past, can continue with the remaining modules. The Intermediate course is comprised of modules 5 – 9.

This segment of the course will build on the concepts learned in modules 1 to 4 that have already been completed. Participants will learn how to acquire evidence, critically review research, appraise practice guidelines and modify process using evidence-based decision making.

Full course (modules 1-9, minimum time required: 50 hours)

The full course combines the modules of the Introductory course with those of the Intermediate course to provide a complete overview of evidence-based approaches.

*Pricing and registration (reduced prices!):

Introductory Course (modules 1-4)	Intermediate Course (modules 5-9)	Full Course (modules 1-9)
Member: $50 Non-member: $90 Student Member: $35	Member: $115 Non-member: $185 Student Member: $70	Member: $150 Non-member: $250 Student Member: $100

*Note: Prices are in Canadian dollars and do not include GST or HST.

 

Course format

The course is available via the web and is compatible with both PC and MacIntosh computers.
Minimum system requirements:

• High speed Internet connection
• Windows, Linux or MacIntosh computer operating system
• Internet Explorer 7 and above, Mozilla FireFox version 5, or Apple Safari version 3 or later, or Chrome 15
• Current version of Adobe Flash Player
• Current version of Adobe Reader
• Current version of Apple QuickTime Player
• Microsoft Office (Word and PowerPoint)
• Sound card

Please indicate your interest in taking this course by registering below. Once we have determined that there is sufficient interest in the courses, you will be contacted to provide payment information.