wncit fact sheet
1. APPROACH
2. COMPONENTS OF TOOLKIT
3. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
4. RATIONALE
5. VALUE/NEED FOR WNCIT
- Use of Developed Nutrition Competency Framework (NCF) for medical courses; aligned with the Framework of Competencies for Medical Graduate Outcomes.
- Consists of 4 knowledge-based and 5 skill-based competencies for medical graduates.
- Use of curriculum mapping to integrate nutritional competencies in Medical Courses enabling; · Identification of key elements
· Identification of gaps in information and opportunities to integrate competencies
· Visualisation of the vertical integration
· Mapping of scope and sequence of students learning
· Mapping of links between student learning and assessment
2. COMPONENTS OF TOOLKIT
- A set of Learning Outcomes (to compliment the Nutrition Curriculum Framework).
- Nutrition Curriculum Mapping Tool (CMT).
- Exemplars of Nutrition Competency Assessment tools.
- Nutrition Education Resources for teaching staff.
- An instruction Manual for the use of the WNCIT and associated resources.
3. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
- WNCIT led by Deakin University, partnered with Monash University, University of Queensland and University of Tasmania - all delivering entry-level medical courses.
- And the Dietitians Association Australia (DAA) - key professional body for dietitians.
4. RATIONALE
- No consistent integration of nutrition knowledge and skills demonstrated in Australian medical schools.
- Medical schools do not have the ready access to appropriate, quality nutrition education resources to assist effective integration of nutrition into curricula.
- Successful integration of nutrition competency into entry-level medical courses will result in graduates who are better prepared for working in multi-disciplinary health care teams and have appropriate skills to assess and manage nutritional risk, assisting the population to adopt healthier nutrition practices.
5. VALUE/NEED FOR WNCIT
- Nutrition is vital to the maintenance of health and prevention of disease.
- Nutritionally-competent medical practitioners will be able to effectively assist patients to make relevant, evidence-based improvements in their diets, reducing the chronic disease burden in Australia.
- Doctors generally see patients earlier than dieticians; they are often the first point of call and may, in remote areas, be the only possible point of call for individuals.
- At least 80% of the chronic disease burden has been attributed to diet and lifestyle factors.