To enable the nutrition and dietetic workforce to effectively and demonstrate their value and overall impact, a core digital dietetic record template has been created, based upon the BDA Model and Process for Nutrition and Dietetic Practice.
The templates (for initial and review consultations) have been designed to incorporate both outcome data and standardised language terms. You can link to the revised standardised language terms list here.
The level of functionality of your digital system will determine what you are able to implement within your area of work. Different workplace settings and dietetic specialities will also affect your template requirements.
For further support with implementing digital dietetic templates please liaise with your local IT department.
This toolkit was developed as a result of a BDA project to investigate the feasibility of creating a unified dietetic digital record and to develop a core digital dietetic record template.
A short summary of this project is available here
Summary of the BDA Toolkit for Digital Dietetic Records and Collecting Outcome Data Project 2024
This toolkit was developed resulting from a BDA project to investigate the feasibility of creating a unified dietetic digital record.
The benefits to this would be:
- The ‘BDA Model and Process for Nutrition and Dietetic Practice’ (BDA Model and Process) and the digital record are aligned.
- That embedded standardised language terms facilitate the clarity of dietetic records and facilitate straightforward collection of outcome data, enabling us to demonstrate our contribution, value and overall impact.
Firstly, a short online survey to obtain the views of BDA members was conducted in June 2023. There was an excellent response; 378 responded of which 92% worked in the NHS. There was representation from all four nations of the UK and from most workplace settings.
The results showed a desire for a standardised, structured digital dietetic template that focussed on the core elements including:
- Data Analysis including reports on outcomes, capacity and demand
- Ability to pull through data from anthropometry and biochemical results and trends
- Using the BDA Model and Process
However, there were concerns due to:
- the large number of digital systems used that are often unable to share data
- the varying functionality within these digital systems e.g. limited ability to pull through data and generate reports
- template variations are likely to be required in some specialist areas
The toolkit has therefore been designed to focus on the core elements of a digital dietetic record template.
Please be aware that the differing functionality of workplace digital systems may affect the implementation of the digital tool, and close liaison with your local IT department is likely to be required. Your workplace setting and speciality will also determine your template requirements.
The core templates (for initial and review consultations) have been designed to incorporate outcome data, a key aspect highlighted from the survey.
Access the toolkit
The toolkit contains the following documents:
- Core digital dietetic record template for initial consultations
- Core digital dietetic record template for review consultations
- Guidelines for developing a digital dietetic record using the core template
- Capturing outcome data using a digital dietetic record
- A standardised approach to collecting outcome data
- Updated Standardised Language terms for use with BDA Model and Process 2024
- A webinar has been produced alongside these documents, entitled ‘Creating a Core Digital Dietetic Record Template’