A Free Self-Study Continuing Education Program for Dietetic Professionals

Translating Epidemiology into Sound Public Health Advice: A Problem, Key Concepts, and a Pearl or Two

Approved for 1.0 CPE credit hour by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)*

Program Number: 094254

Release Date: April 1, 2010

Effective Through: April 1, 2013

Suggested Learning Needs Codes: 4000, 4050, 9050 [These are suggested learning codes only. You may use any learning code that is applicable.]

Program Overview:

Are your patients confused by mixed media messages about nutrition and health? Do you struggle with what to say when asked about findings from nutritional epidemiological studies that patients hear about in the national media or on the web? In this program, one of the country's leading physician-epidemiologists discusses key differences between how the scientific literature and the media communicate nutritional epidemiological data. He also explores how to effectively communicate the risks/benefits of "weak" associations, including what can and cannot be said about association, causation, and risk, and what recommendations (dietary, public health, policy) should and should not be made.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this self-study learning module, health professionals will be able to:

• Cite key differences between the way nutritional epidemiology studies are reported in the media and scientific literature.
• Communicate the risks/benefits of weak epidemiological associations, including what can and cannot be said about association, causation and risk.
• Understand what recommendations should and should not be made to consumers as a result of epidemiological findings.

Instructions:

Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered: Simply follow the instructions below to earn 1.0 CPE credit hour following your successful completion of the CPE Quiz. When you finish you will be able to download your CPE certificate.

Step 1. Read the learning objectives for this CPE program as listed above.

Step 2. View the program materials, including the podcast presentation and accompanying handouts. You can view or download the handouts as a PDF through the links below. (To save, right-click on the link and choose "save target as.")

• Podcast Presentation (Flash video)
• Slide Handout (PDF)

Step 3. Complete the online CPE Quiz to ensure you have met the program objectives. After completing the quiz, you will receive your score and the correct answers. You'll also be given a link to download and print your CPE Certificate.

Step 4. For more information, view the bibliography and additional references (PDF).

Biographies:

Douglas L. Weed, MD, PhD (Speaker)

Dr. Douglas L. Weed is an independent scientific consultant. He is a physician-epidemiologist with 25 years of experience in epidemiological research and research training. Dr. Weed received his M.D. from the Ohio State University and his M.P.H. and Ph.D. degrees in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina. His research focuses on the methods of general causation, cancer causation, systematic reviews, and weight-of-evidence methods. In addition, he has written extensively on the ethics of epidemiology and public health. He holds academic appointments at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health and at the Georgetown University Kennedy Institute of Ethics. He co-chaired the National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Daubert decision and was a Visiting Scholar at the Federal Judicial Center (Washington, DC). He is the past-chair of the American College of Epidemiology's Ethics and Standards of Practice Committee.

Jane Nelson Worel, MSN, APRN-BC, APNP (Moderator)

Jane Nelson Worel is President of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) and the Coordinator of the Cardiovascular Disease in Women Program at Meriter Hospital, in Madison, Wisconsin. She is a Fellow of the American Association of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, a member of the American Heart Association and serves on the National Physical Activity and Metabolism Council's Obesity Committee.

This program is based on a webinar presented in August 2009

Accreditation:

* The Coca-Cola Company's Beverage Institute For Health & Wellness is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Accredited Provider with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Provider number BF001.