Measuring outcomes of nutrition intervention.

Along with other health care professions, The Canadian Dietetic Association is promoting outcomes assessment among its members. Defining outcomes and determining their measurement is a continuous process. Outcomes can refer to any consequence of health care, including changes in health status, knowledge, or behaviour. Establishing the link between the outcome and the interventions that led to it is important, but can be difficult. This is especially the case for the dietetic profession, in that nutrition status is often affected by factors other than our nutrition intervention. We reviewed the work of other professional associations: the American Dietetic Association, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Canadian Psychological Association, and Canadian Nurses Association. All have formed expert committees or task forces to come to grips with the questions of outcome measurement relevant to their profession. All have found the process difficult and time-consuming. Many health professions are moving toward the position voiced by the CNA: using outcome information they will try to do what they do better, further, they will question whether they should be doing it.