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To survey paediatric dietitians’ knowledge and use of evidence-based nutrition (EBN). Cross-sectional survey using reply-paid questionnaires. Paediatric dietitians in Australian teaching hospitals. Age, sex, appointment, clinical practice, research activities; attitudes to, training in and use of EBN; and perceived barriers to use of EBN. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (SPSS). Fifty-nine (86%) of 69 questionnaires were returned. Most (97%) dietitians were women working full-time (63%), mean age 37 years (±9 SD). Most (75%) dietitians encountered knowledge gaps less than five times per week and most (87%) questions related to therapy. The majority (95%) performed their own literature searches, less than five times per month. All had access to ≥1 electronic literature databases including Medline ( n = 58, 98%), Cochrane Library ( n = 44, 75%) and CINAHL ( n = 35, 59%). Information sources used most often were Medline and consultation with colleagues. Reported barriers to using EBN were lack of time ( n = 53, 90%) or lack of skills for critical appraisal of published articles ( n = 51, 86%) or literature searching ( n = 48, 81%). While 53 (90%) believed in an evidence-based approach, 43 (73%) either did not practise EBN or rated themselves as beginners. Most dietitians favoured evidence-based practice, but reported lack of time, skills or rapid access to electronic databases as barriers to its practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents letters to the editor on medical topics, published in the March 2003 issue of the medical journal 'Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.' Query related to transient hyperphosphatasaemia of infancy and early childhood; Information on shopping trolley-related injuries in children; Nasogastric rehydration in acute gastroenteritis.

Evidence-based medicine is practised widely in some specialties and is now part of many undergraduate and graduate medical curricula. However, the extent to which it is used in clinical paediatric practice is not known and its expansion remains a major challenge. Access to technology which facilitates literature searching, and development of journals addressing specific paediatric problems, will encourage the use of evidence-based medicine by the busy paediatrician. Informed practice of evidence-based medicine will ensure that clinical expertise is complemented by a thorough search, evaluation and judicious application of relevant information from the medical literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]