Developing and piloting a simulated placement experience for students.

COVID-19 and rising student numbers are affecting healthcare education, particularly access to clinical placements. As healthcare education is increasingly supported by technology and non-traditional teaching methods, educational experiences gained through clinical placement also require new approaches. This article explores and discusses the use of a simulated clinical placement for a dietetic student cohort. During this virtual placement, students were able to explore and experience a virtual clinical setting and immerse themselves in a placement experience. A vast range of virtual resources were linked to the online placement portal, including statutory and mandatory training, dietetic resources, patient journeys and interprofessional communication. Advantages of this approach include that all students experience a given situation, unlike in traditional placements where workloads, variety and engagement vary; there is also no risk to patient safety. The aim is to enhance the learning experience to create effective, efficient clinicians. This virtual placement for dietetics is part of a bigger project to develop and evaluate the use of a virtual placement framework in a range of professions. The concept of virtual placement may have been brought forward by the COVID-19 crisis but was inevitable with the move to more technology-enhanced learning tools.

Changes in food advertisements during 'prime-time' television from 1991 to 2006 in the UK and Canada.

Food advertisements on mainstream television have received less research attention than those on children's television. Little is known about how television food advertisements vary internationally or if there have been changes over recent years. We describe food-related television advertisements and the nutrient content of foods advertised during prime-time television in Ontario, Canada and the UK in 1991 and 2006. Information on what advertisements were broadcast were obtained from video recordings and audience research bureaux. Data on nutrient content of foods advertised were obtained from manufacturers and standard food tables. The proportion of advertisements that were food related decreased between 1991 and 2006 in both countries. The frequency of food-related advertisements was relatively constant in Canada but decreased between 1991 and 2006 in the UK. In 1991, advertisements for beverages and meals predominated in both countries. By 2006, food-related advertisements in Canada were dominated by meals and restaurants. In the UK advertisements for food stores and beverages predominated. The 'TV diet' in Canada in 1991 was relatively high in fat, high in alcohol and low in fibre, compared to current recommendations. By 2006, this had changed to high in fat and sodium and low in fibre. The 'TV diet' in the UK in 1991 was high in fat, sodium, sugar and alcohol and low in fibre compared to current recommendations. By 2006, the UK 'TV diet' was high in sodium, sugar and alcohol and low in fibre. Foods advertised on 'prime-time' television do not reflect a healthful diet.

Folic acid food fortification prevents inadequate folate intake among preschoolers from Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: Folic acid food fortification has successfully reduced neural tube defect-affected pregnancies across Canada. The effect of this uncontrolled public health intervention on folate intake among Canadian children is, however, unknown. Our objectives were to determine folic acid intake from food fortification and whether fortification promoted adequate folate intakes, and to describe folic acid-fortified food usage among Ontario preschoolers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data were used from the NutriSTEP validation project with preschoolers recruited using convenience sampling. Mean daily total folate and folic acid intakes were estimated from 3 d food records, which included multivitamin supplement use. Comparisons were made to Dietary Reference Intakes, accounting for and excluding fortificant folic acid, to determine the prevalence of inadequate and excessive intakes. SETTING: Canada. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and fifty-four preschoolers (aged 3-5 years). RESULTS: All participants (130 girls, 124 boys) ate folic acid-fortified foods and 30% (n 76) used folic acid-containing supplements. Mean (SE) fortificant folic acid intake was 83 (2) microg/d, which contributed 30% and 50% to total folate intake for supplement users and non-users, respectively. The prevalence of total folate intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement was <1%; however, excluding fortificant folic acid, the prevalence was 32%, 54% and 47% for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds, respectively. The overall prevalence of folic acid (fortificant and supplemental) intakes above the Tolerable Upper Intake Level was 2% (7% among supplement users). CONCLUSIONS: Folic acid food fortification promotes dietary folate adequacy and did not appear to result in excessive folic acid intake unless folic acid-containing supplements were consumed.

Zinc-fortified foods do not improve intake of total dietary zinc for Ontario preschoolers.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if zinc food fortification makes a significant contribution to dietary zinc intake and to describe zinc-fortified food usage, amongst Canadian preschoolers. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were used from the NutriSTEP validation project for which preschoolers (3-5 years) from across Ontario were recruited using convenience sampling. Three-day food records were used to estimate mean daily zinc intake and children were stratified by age group for analysis. Comparisons were then made to the Dietary Reference Intakes, whilst accounting for zinc from zinc-fortified foods and supplements and also whilst excluding zinc from zinc-fortified foods, to determine the prevalence of inadequate (< Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)) and excessive (> Tolerable Upper Intake Level (TUL)) zinc intakes. The contributions (%) made to total zinc intake by zinc-fortified foods, unfortified foods and zinc-containing supplements were determined as were contributions made to zinc intake by zinc-fortified foods, categorized by fortified-food type. RESULTS: Fewer than a third (30%, n = 76) of participants ate zinc-fortified foods and only 3% (n = 7) used a zinc-containing supplement. Including the contribution from zinc-fortified foods, 25% (n = 32) of 3-year-olds (n = 128) had mean zinc intake (range 7.0-7.6 mg/day) marginally above the TUL (7 mg/day). Zinc-fortified foods contributed only 2.3 +/- 5.8% (mean% +/- SD) to total zinc intake. The mean intake of the 25% of 3-year-olds above the TUL is attributed to their higher mean energy and protein intakes (p < 0.001) as compared to 3-year-olds not consuming zinc at levels above the TUL. Even excluding zinc-fortified foods, the prevalence of inadequate zinc intakes (