IMPECD - Improvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics

Networking and further development of training and teaching programmes in dietetics/dietology

Nutrition and european networks

Non communicable diseases (NCDs) take 38 million people’s lives each year worldwide (1). In Europe NCDs are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have recognized the importance of nutrition in prevention and treatment of NCDs (2; 3). Dietitians play an important role in the prevention of NCDs and in patient care of several diseases (4).

Dietetics is a relatively young discipline at HEIs in Europe and differences in curriculum and thus education still exist. An example of the differences encountered is the “Dietetic Care Process” (DCP) or “Nutrition Care Process”, which is of key concern to all dietetic professionals. It is a systematic approach to recognize, diagnose and intervene in nutrition related health concerns. It improves consistency and quality of dietetic care and the predictability of outcomes, ensures evidence-based practice, and supports critical thinking as well as decision-making in all areas of dietetic practice (5).

Worldwide and within Europe different frameworks of DCPs are used e.g. differences in the number of steps or used terminology. Equally important, each step should be strengthened by evidence-based recommendations, which are still not available for Europe. Furthermore, not all countries use a standardized language in dietetics (6). Thus implementation of international research projects, comparability of project results, agreement of the most efficient therapies and cross border mobility for professionals is difficult.

Lifelong Learning, open online courses and virtual patients

Moreover, there is a substantial need for innovative learning materials. Different learning materials for the training of the various DCP are available, but unfortunately none use an innovative learning approach or are free for use. Therefore, another key output of this project is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) based on the unified framework DCP and free for use.

The project will be a role model for all of Europe and other HEIs will be encouraged to implement the unified framework DCP and the MOOC. IMPECD addresses also the Education and Training 2020 strategy of the EU (7).

Health professionals need to be trained to use new technologies as well as to provide innovative means of health care aimed at improving patient care (8). Therefore a Strategic Partnership composed of five European institutions of higher education (HEI) has been formed to enhance the quality of dietetic education.

Project goals

  • unify the framework Dietetic Care Process (DCP)
  • produce a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), free for use
  • implement two Intensive Study Programs (ISP) to test the MOOC and evaluate the materials
  • set up a syllabus and implementation guidelines to disseminate the results
  • improving quality and relevance of dietetic higher education in Europe
  • improving key competences including English language, digital competences, knowledge and understanding of dietetics, dietetic process as well as professional reasoning
  • building professional relationships, autonomy and accountability
  • research and development in dietetics and thereby increasing employability
  • support discussions concerning a dietetic standardized language
  • support Life Long Learning for dietitians

Output of the project include a unified framework DCP, as a basis for the development of clinical cases, and the production of the innovative MOOC, which is embedded in the IMPECD-platform and available 3 years after the project has ended. Furthermore, pedagogical training materials are developed to present the clinical cases on the MOOC and for the development of the contents of the two ISPs. A syllabus is compiled and addresses the other European universities as a guideline to implement the mentioned results within the curriculum. To disseminate the results as a role model for Europe, implementation guidelines are compiled as a discussion basis for the stakeholders. These results will support the development of a unified framework DCP and the discussions about the implementation of a standardized language in the field of dietetics. Furthermore, quality and relevance dietetic higher education improves and Life Long Learning will be supported and serves as basis of excellent dietetic therapy in all of whole Europe, which lead to cost savings in the health care sector.

1. World Health Organization. (2015). Noncommunicable diseases. Retrieved 15 2 2015 from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs355/en/.

2. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. (2014). European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015-2020. Copenhagen: WHO. Retrieved 15 2 2015 from http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/253727/64wd14e_FoodNutAP_140426.pdf

3. European Union. (2014). Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 on the establishment of a third Programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1350/2007/EC Text with EEA re. Retrieved 15 2 2015 from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R0282&from=EN.

4. Lammers, M., & Kok, L. (2012). Cost-benefit analysis of dietary treatment. SEO Report No. 2012-76A. Amsterdam: SEO ECONOMIC RESEARCH. Retrieved 28 1 2015 from http://www.seo.nl/uploads/media/2012-76a_Cost-benefit_analysis_of_dietary_treatment.pdf

5. International Confederation of Dietetic Associations. (2010). Evidence-based dietetics practice. Retrieved 23 3 2015 from http://www.internationaldietetics.org/Downloads/ICDA-Standard-Evidence-based-Dietetics-Practice.aspx.

6. European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians. (2012). Report on Knowledge and Use of a Nutrition Care Process & Standardised Language by Dieticians in Europe. Retrieved 12 18 2014 from http://www.drf.nu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/NCP-SL-Report.pdf

7. European Union. (2009). Council conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020). Retrieved 5 2 2015 from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52009XG0528(01)&from=EN.

8. Dietz, W. H., Baur, L. A., Hall, K., Puhl, R. M., Taveras, E. M., Uauy, R., & Kopelman, P. (2015). Management of obesity: improvement of health-care training and systems for prevention and care. The Lancet, (14)61748-7, S. S0140-6736. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61748-7.

Funding

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Sustainability & Impact Board

Publications

Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Ramminger, S., Kolm, A., Barkmeijer, A., Gast, C., Adam, M., Le Bruyn, B., Heine-Bröring, R., Rachman-Elbaum, S., Werkman, A., Vanherle, K., Höld, E., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., & Valentini, L. (2019). Nutrition assessment in process-driven, personalized dietetic intervention - The potential im-portance of assessing behaviour components to improve behavioural change: Results of the EU-funded IMPECD project. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 32(8), 125–134. https://doi.org/10/gh378d
Vanherle, K., Werkman, A., Baete, E., Barkmeijer, A., Kolm, A., Gast, C., Ramminger, S., Höld, E., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Ohlrich-Hahn, S., Roemeling-Walters, M., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Adam, M., & Valentini, L. (2018). Monitoring and Outcome Evaluation in different Dietetic Care settings: Suggestions for a standard model [Posterpräsentation]. EFAD Conference, Rotterdam.
Werkman, A., Kolm, A., Adam, M., Vanherle, K., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Roemeling-Walters, M., Höld, E., Gast, C., Lange, K., Ohlrich-Hahn, S., Rachman-Elbaum, S., Le Bruyn, B., Heine-Bröring, R., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., & Buchholz, D. (2018). Process Models in Dietetic Care – A Comparison between Models in Europe [Posterpräsentation]. EFAD Conference, Rotterdam.
Kolm, A., Vanherle, K., Werkman, A., Valentini, L., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., de Nooijer, J., & van Merrienboer, J. (2018). IMPECD – Improvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics [Posterpräsentation]. AMEE - International Association for Medical Education, Basel.
Kolm, A. (2018). Improvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics – Strategische Partnerschaft [Invited talk]. 4. Nationale Erasmus+ Jahrestagung, Wien.
Kolm, A., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Höld, E., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Vanherle, K., Werkman, A., Ohlrich-Hahn, S., & Valentini, L. (2018). Fallbasierte Online-Lehre in der Diaetologie. Diaetologen Journal Für Ernährungsmanagement Und –Therapie, 4, 26–27.
Ohlrich-Hahn, S., Kolm, A., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Vanherle, K., Werkman, A., & Valentini, L. (2018). Digitale Lehre in der Diätetik. Ernaehrungs Umschau, 65(10), M584-585.
Kolm, A. (2017). Virtual patients in online learning for dietitians – the EU-project IMPECD [Invited talk]. 5th Congress of Registered Dietitians-Nutritionists of Catalonia Entity, Reus (Spanien).
Kolm, A. (2017). Update aus dem IMPECD Projekt [Invited talk]. Arge Ausbildung Diätologie Austria (AADA) - Meeting, Wien.
Kolm, A. (2017). Die Diätologische Befundung anhand PES-R für das Diätologische Gutachten [Invited talk]. Zertifikatskurs zur Erstellung Diätologischer Gutachten in der Bariatrie, Verband der Diätologen Österreichs, KA Rudolfstiftung, Wien.
Kolm, A., Vanherle, K., Werkman, A., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Valentini, L., & Kohlenberg-Müller, K. (2017). DCP-basiertes Arbeiten in der stationären Ernährungstherapie: Fallbeispiel Kardiovaskuläre Erkran-kung [Invited talk]. 59. Bundeskongress des Verbandes der DiätassistentInnen Deutschlands, Wolfsburg, D.
Kolm, A. (2017). Interdisziplinäre Modulprüfung – Case Studies zur Vorbereitung und mündlichen Prüfung [Invited talk]. FHK Symposium 2017 "Denn sie wissen (nicht) was sie können - Kompetenzorientiertes Prüfen in der Praxis", Wien.
Rachman-Elbaum, S., Kolm, A., Werkman, A., Vanherle, K., Baete, E., Le Bruyn, B., Hahn, S., Gast, C., Roemeling-Walters, M., Heine-Bröring, R., Ohlrich, S., Höld, E., Huber, M.-L., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., & Valentini, L. (2017). Presenting the IMPECD project: Improvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics. A uni-fied dietetic-model linked to unified standards of education and competences [Invited talk]. Israeli Nutrition Week, Tel Aviv.
Werkman, A., Vanherle, K., Valentini, L., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Heine-Bröring, R., Roemeling-Walters, M., Adam, M., Aerts, H., Baete, E., Le Bruyn, B., Van Vlaslaer, V., Buchholz, D., Rachman-Elbaum, S., Gast, C., Hahn, S., Huber, M.-L., Höld, E., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Höld, E., & Kolm, A. (2017). Education of European dietitians using a MOOC: the IMPECD project [Posterpräsentation]. COHEHRE Conference, Setubal (Portugal).
Kolm, A., Valentini, L., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Werkman, A., & Vanherle, K. (2017). Innovatives Lernkonzept für die Diätetik im Rahmen des EU-Projektes IMPECD [Posterpräsentation]. 3. Interprofessioneller Ausbildungskongress für Lehrende in Gesundheitsfachberufen, Bielefeld.
Kolm, A., Valentini, L., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Werkman, A., & Vanherle, K. (2017). Innovatives Lernkonzept für die Diätetik im Rahmen des EU-Projektes IMPECD. 3. Interprofessioneller Ausbildungskongress für Lehrende in Gesundheitsfachberufen, Bielefeld.
Wewerka-Kreimel, D., Werkman, A., Vanherle, K., Valentini, L., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., & Kolm, A. (2017). Clinical Case Typ 2 Diabetes: evidenzbasierte Therapie am Beispiel des IMPECD Projekts [Invited talk]. 34. Ernährungskongress des Verbandes der Diätologen Österreichs, Wien.
Kolm, A., Werkman, A., Valentini, L., Vanherle, K., Baete, E., Aerts, H., Le Bruyn, B., Hahn, S., Gast, C., Roemeling-Walters, M., Heine-Bröring, R., Buchholz, D., Rachman-Elbaum, S., Höld, E., Huber, M.-L., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., & Kohlenberg-Müller, K. (2016). Ausbildung von Gesundheitsfachkräften in der Diätetik [Posterpräsentation]. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Ernährung, Wien.
Kolm, A., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Vanherle, K., Werkman, A., & Valentini, L. (2016). Ausbildung von Gesundheitsfachkräften in der Diätetik für das 21. Jahrhundert am Beispiel IMPECD [Posterpräsentation]. Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung, Berlin.
Kolm, A., & Kritz, H. (2016). Kompetenzorientierte Modulprüfung am Studiengang Diätologie. Interprofessionelles Prüfungsfor-mat anhand klinischer Fallbeispiele in Medizin & Ernährungsstherapie [Invited talk and workshop]. 5. Tag der Lehre an der FH St. Pölten mit dem Leitthema: "Kompetenzorientiert Lehren und Prüfen", St. Pölten.
Kolm, A. (2016). European Project IMPECD – Improvement of Education and Competences in Dietetics [Invited talk]. Webinar ENDietS, St. Pölten.
Kolm, A. (2016). Trainieren an virtuellen Patientinnen und Patienten. ÖGPH Newsletter, 7–8.
Kolm, A., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Valentini, L., Werkman, A., & Vanherle, K. (2016). Aus den FHs: Trainieren an virtuellen PatientInnen in der Diätologie. Das EU-Projekt IMPECD. Diaetologen Journal Für Ernährungsmanagement Und –Therapie, 2, 30–31.
Kolm, A., Werkman, A., Vanherle, K., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., & Valentini, L. (2016). Innovatives Lernkonzept für die Diätologie in Europa am Beispiel IMPECD. Nutrition-News Online, 3.
Kolm, A. (2016). Das europäische Projekt IMPECD: Trainieren an virtuellen PatientInnen. Aktuelle Ernährungsmedizin, 41(5), 349. https://doi.org/10/gh376z
Kolm, A., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., Werkman, A., Valentini, L., & Vanherle, K. (2016). Diätetik-Ausbildung für das 21. Jahrhundert – Beispiel IMPECD: Herausforderungen für das Gesundheits-system in Europa: Demographischer Wandel und gesellschaftliche Veränderungen. Journal Für Ernährungsmedizin, 18(2), 28–29.
Kolm, A., Vanherle, K., Werkman, A., Kohlenberg-Müller, K., & Valentini, L. (2016). Aktuelles aus der Forschung: Ausbildung von Gesundheitsfachkräften in der Diätetik am Beispiel IMPECD. Ernährungs Umschau, 63(5), M259.
Schweiger, A., Herb, L., Illy, A., Oberreiter, K., Ritt, M., Schedlberger, L., Kiselka, A., & Kolm, A. (2015). Dietetics & Physiotherapy Students Create Teaching Videos. Newsletter European Federation of Associations of Dietitians.
Kiselka, A. (2015). X-Site: Student Interprofessional Teaching Experience. Posterpräsentation an der Dreiländer-Tagung D-A-CH, zum Thema "Health Universities: Bildung und Versorgung zusammen führen, Winterthur, Schweiz.
Kiselka, A., & Kolm, A. (2015). X-Site - Student Interprofessional Teaching Experience. Game Based Learning. Dialogorientierung & Spielerisches Lernen Digital Und Analog, Beiträge Zum 4. Tag Der Lehre an Der FH St. Pölten Am 15.10.2015, S. 15-21. 4. Tag der Lehre an der FH St. Pölten, St. Pölten, Österreich. http://skill.fhstp.ac.at/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tagungsband_2015.pdf
Kolm, A., Daniel, L., Wewerka-Kreimel, D., & Höld, E. (2015). Case-based online learning im EU-Projekt IMPECD. In J. Haag, J. Weißenböck, & C. Freisleben-Teutscher (Eds.), Tagungsband 4. Tag der Lehre zum Thema "Game Based Learning – Dialogorientierung & spielerisches Lernen digital und analog " der FH St. Pölten (pp. 101–106). ikon VerlagsGesmbH.
Kolm, A., Ramler, H., & Berger, J. (2015). Lessons-Learned aus dem Pilotprojekt „Inverted Classroom“ am Studiengang Diätologie. In Neue Technologien – Kollaboration – Personalisierung, Beiträge zum 3. Tag der Lehre an der FH St. Pölten am 16. Oktober 2014 (pp. 16–21). Fachhochschule St. Pölten. http://skill.fhstp.ac.at/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Tagungsband_TagderLehre_Online_2015-31.pdf

Video

Campus Talk (in german)

Press coverage

Virtuelle Patienten erhalten Ernährungstherapie
07/14/2017

Medium: Die Presse

Partners
  • University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Germany:
  • Prof. Dr. Luzia Valentini,Dipl.Med.päd. Sabine Ohlrich, Dr. Daniel Buchholz(09/2015-12/2017), Karoline Lange,Msc, Shelly Rachman-Elbaum, MSc
  • University of Applied Sciences Fulda, Germany:
  • Prof. Dr. Kathrin Kohlenberg-Müller, Prof. Dr. Sigrid Hahn, Christina Gast
  • Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen, Belgium:
  • Koen Vanherle, Veerle Van Vlaslaer, Marijke Meeusen, Marleen Adam, Eline Baete, Hanna Aerts (09/2015 – 12/2016), Bente Le Bruyn
  • Hanzehogeschool Groningen Stichting, Netherlands:
  • Andrea Werkman, Maaike Roemeling-Walters, Renate Heine-Bröring
  • Sustainability and Impact Board:
  • European Federation of Associations of Dietitians (EFAD)
  • European Network of Dietetic Students (ENDietS)
  • http://www.efad.org/everyone
  • Austrian Association of Dietitians
  • http://www.diaetologen.at/
  • German Dietitian Association
  • http://www.vdd.de/servicenavigation/english/
  • Nederlandse Vereniging van Diëtisten
  • http://www.nvdietist.nl/
  • Vlaamse Beroepsvereniging Voedingskundigen en Diëtisten
  • http://www.vbvd.org/
  • Union Professionnelle des diplômés en Diététique de Langue Française (UPDLF asbl)
  • http://updlf-asbl.be
Runtime
09/01/2015 – 09/01/2018
Status
finished