Challenges and lessons from systematic literature reviews for the Australian dietary guidelines
Margaret Allman-Farinelli A , Annette Byron B , Clare Collins C , Janelle Gifford A and Peter Williams D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
B Dietitians Association of Australia, 1/8 Phipps Close, Deakin, ACT 2600, Australia.
C School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
D School of Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: peterwilliams@ihug.com.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 20(3) 236-240 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY13016
Submitted: 16 February 2012 Accepted: 27 March 2013 Published: 29 April 2013
Abstract
In 2009–10 the Dietitians Association of Australia conducted a series of systematic reviews for the National Health and Medical Research Council to generate evidence statements to inform the revision of the Dietary Guidelines for Australians. In total 202 body of evidence statements were constructed and assigned a grading detailing the certainty with which each could be used to inform policy. This paper describes some of the challenges and insights gained from the process, specifically related to: study type, study quality assessment, the lack of quantified data, diet exposure, definition of a healthy population, generalisability and applicability, and resource allocation. It is clear that there is still a need for further refinement of the methods for evaluating evidence for nutrition policy, but the current dietary guidelines are now much more robustly evidence informed than ever before.
References
American Dietetic Association (2008) ‘Evidence analysis manual.’ (American Dietetic Association Scientific Affairs and Research: Chicago, IL)Armstrong R, Waters E, Roberts H, Oliver S, Popay J (2006) The role and theoretical evolution of knowledge translation and exchange in public health. Journal of Public Health 28, 384–389.
| The role and theoretical evolution of knowledge translation and exchange in public health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17082462PubMed |
Bowker R (2008) Forming clinical questions. In ‘How to write a guideline from start to finish: a handbook for healthcare professionals’. (Eds R Bowker, M Lakhanpaul, M Atkinson, K Armon, R MacFaul, T Stephenson) pp. 39–48. (Churchill Livingstone: Philadelphia)
Brownson RC, Chriqui JF, Stamatakis KA (2009) Understanding evidence-based public health policy. American Journal of Public Health 99, 1576–1583.
| Understanding evidence-based public health policy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19608941PubMed |
Cook DJ, Mulrow CD, Haynes RB (1997) Systematic reviews: synthesis of best evidence in clinical decisions. Annals of Internal Medicine 126, 376–380.
Dietitians Association of Australia (2009) ‘The endorsement process for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.’ (Dietitians Association of Australia: Canberra)
Eden J, Levit L, Berg A, Morton S (eds) (2011) ‘Finding what works in health care: standards for systematic reviews.’ (Institute of Medicine: Washington DC)
GRADE Working Group (2004) Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. British Medical Journal 328, 1490
| Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15205295PubMed |
Harbour R, Miller JE (2001) A new system for grading recommendations in evidence based guidelines. British Medical Journal 323, 334–336.
| A new system for grading recommendations in evidence based guidelines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mvlt1Wqtg%3D%3D&md5=8032b178dc2bf8e3e1721154798c4ec3CAS | 11498496PubMed |
King JC (2007) An evidence-based approach for establishing dietary guidelines. The Journal of Nutrition 137, 480–483.
Kohatsu ND, Robinson JG, Torner JC (2004) Evidence-based public health. An evolving concept. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 27, 417–421.
Liang W, Lee A, Binns C (2010) White rice-based food consumption and ischemic stroke risk: a case-control study in Southern China. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 19, 480–484.
| White rice-based food consumption and ischemic stroke risk: a case-control study in Southern China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21051005PubMed |
Mann JI (2010) Evidence-based nutrition: does it differ from evidence-based medicine? Annals of Medicine 42, 475–486.
| Evidence-based nutrition: does it differ from evidence-based medicine?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20653461PubMed |
McLennan W, Podger A (1999) National nutrition survey. Food eaten. Australia 1995. ABS cat. no. 4804.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.
National Health and Medical Research Council (2000) ‘How to use the evidence: assessment and application of scientific evidence.’ (AusInfo: Canberra)
National Health and Medical Research Council (2003) ‘Food for health: dietary guidelines for Australian adults.’ (National Health and Medical Research Council: Canberra)
National Health and Medical Research Council (2009) Additional levels of evidence and grades for recommendations for developers of guidelines. Stage 2 consultation (early 2008 – end June 2009). (National Health and Medical Research Council: Canberra) Available at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/guidelines/stage_2_consultation_levels_and_grades.pdf [Verified 1 February 2013]
National Health and Medical Research Council (2011a) Review of the dietary guidelines. (National Health and Medical Research Council: Canberra) Available at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/your-health/nutrition/review-dietary-guidelines [Verified 1 February 2013]
National Health and Medical Research Council (2011b) A review of the evidence to address targeted questions to inform the revision of the Australian Dietary Guidelines. (NH&MRC: Canberra). Available at: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/public_consultation/n55b_dietary_guidelines_evidence_report_111212.pdf [Verified 1 February 2013]
Priebe MG, van Binsbergen JJ, de Vos R, Vonk RJ (2008) Whole grain foods for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD006061
| Whole grain foods for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1c%2FpsF2ktw%3D%3D&md5=8beab4dc1fe709ddf795394e21defa61CAS |
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (2011) Critical appraisal: notes and checklists. (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network: Edinburgh) Available at http://www.sign.ac.uk/methodology/checklists.html [Verified 1 February 2013]
Selvey LA, Carey MG (2013) Australia’s dietary guidelines and the environmental impact of food “from paddock to plate”. The Medical Journal of Australia 198, 18–19.
| Australia’s dietary guidelines and the environmental impact of food “from paddock to plate”.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23330750PubMed |
te Velde SJ, Twisk JWR, Brug J (2007) Tracking of fruit and vegetable consumption from adolescence into adulthood and its longitudinal association with overweight. The British Journal of Nutrition 98, 431–438.
| Tracking of fruit and vegetable consumption from adolescence into adulthood and its longitudinal association with overweight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXpsFentbo%3D&md5=0b0bf037a3522170d7253b65ee22ef47CAS | 17433126PubMed |
The Cochrane Collaboration (2011) Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. (The Cochrane Collaboration: Oxford) Available at http://www.cochrane.org/training/cochrane-handbook [Verified 1 February 2013]
The Cochrane Collaboration (2013) Cochrane Public Health Group. (The Cochrane collaboration: Oxford) Available at http://ph.cochrane.org/review-authors [Verified 8 February 2013]
The Joanna Briggs Institute (2011) ‘Systematic Review Protocols.’ (The Joanna Briggs Institute: Adelaide) Available at http://www.joannabriggs.edu.au/Systematic%20Review%20Protocols [Verified 1 February 2013]
Truswell AS (2001) Levels and kinds of evidence for public health nutrition. Lancet 357, 1061–1062.
| Levels and kinds of evidence for public health nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3jslyrtg%3D%3D&md5=3b314ef593726f6995126e886db3ba6fCAS | 11297955PubMed |
Truswell A (2002) Evidence-based nutrition. Nutrition and Dietetics 59, 7–8.
Truswell AS (2005) Some problems with Cochrane reviews of diet and chronic disease. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 59, S150–S154.
| Some problems with Cochrane reviews of diet and chronic disease.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16052203PubMed |
US Department of Agriculture (2010). Nutrition Evidence Library. (USDA: Washington, DC). Available at http://www.nel.gov [Verified 1 February 2013]
Victora CG, Habitch J-P, Bryce J (2004) Evidence-based public health: moving beyond randomized trials. American Journal of Public Health 94, 400–405.
| Evidence-based public health: moving beyond randomized trials.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14998803PubMed |
Wang S, Moss JR, Hiller JE (2006) Applicability and transferability of interventions in evidence-based public health. Health Promotion International 21, 76–83.
| Applicability and transferability of interventions in evidence-based public health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16249192PubMed |
Williams P, Allman-Farinelli M, Collins M, Gifford J, Byron A (2009) Evidence to address targeted questions to inform the revision of the Australian dietary guidelines. Process Manual. (Dietitians Association of Australia: Canberra) Available at http://daa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Process-manual-Sept-2011.pdf [Verified 1 February 2013]
Wiseman M (2008) Nutrition Society and BAPEN Medical Symposium on ‘Nutrition support in cancer therapy’. The Second World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Expert Report. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 67, 253–256.
| Nutrition Society and BAPEN Medical Symposium on ‘Nutrition support in cancer therapy’. The Second World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Expert Report. Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18452640PubMed |
World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research (2005) ‘Systematic literature review specification manual.’ (World Cancer Research Fund: London)
