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Objective: To examine current dietary fat intakes and compliance in Irish children and to examine changes in intakes from 2005 to 2019.Design: Analyses were based on data from the Irish National Children's Food Survey (NCFS) and the NSFS II, two cross-sectional studies that collected detailed food and beverage intake data through 7-day and 4-day weighed food diaries, respectively.Setting: NCFS and NCFS II, Republic of Ireland.Participants: A nationally representative sample of 594 (NCFS) and 600 (NCFS II) children aged 5-12 years. Current intakes from the NCFS II were compared with those previously reported in the NCFS (www.iuna.net).Results: Current intakes of total fat, SFA, MUFA, PUFA and trans fat as a percentage of total energy are 33·3, 14·0, 13·6, 5·6 and 0·5 %, respectively. Total fat, SFA and trans fat intakes since 2005 remained largely stable over time with all displaying minor decreases of <1 %. Adherence to SFA recommendations remains inadequate, with only 7 % of the population complying. Insufficient compliance with PUFA (71 %) and EPA and DHA (DHA; 16 %) recommendations was also noted.Conclusion: Children in Ireland continue to meet the total fat and trans fat target goals. Adherence to MUFA and PUFA recommendations has also significantly improved. However, deviations for some fats remain, in particular SFA. These findings are useful for the development of dietary strategies to improve compliance with current recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction: (comprising context and problem statement) The 2010 Irish National Drug Rehabilitation Framework advocated an integrated and coordinated care approach to drug rehabilitation in Ireland, providing guidelines around standardised protocols (screening, assessments, care-planning, case-management) within the addiction services, then largely absent nationally. Short description of practice change implemented: In the absence of consistent practice across the region where numerous screening tools, assessments and care-planning processes were being used in an ad-hoc manner, a standardised system of case-management and careplanning was implemented. Aim and theory of change: This initiative aimed to: (i) provide a continuum of care for service users across all addiction and homeless services across Southern Ireland and (ii) enable cooperative interagency working. Targeted population and stakeholders: Substance misusers Homeless Prisoners Irish Traveller Community Key stakeholders included statutory, community and voluntary organisations. Timeline: Since 2011, a 4-phased approach was taken: (i) exploration, planning and resourcing, (ii) implementing, (iii) operationalising, and (iv) business-as-usual (embedding), creating an integrated rehabilitation pathway. A regional case-management manual to support the process was adapted from the National framework, and in 2014, a joint assessment developed which satisfied both addiction and homeless sectors. Training was delivered to 190 frontline staff and 40 managers (28 agencies representing 75 diverse services). Highlights: (innovation, Impact and outcomes) This is the only region in Ireland to have integrated both addiction and homeless services inclusive of an Irish Prison. Co-ordinated shared care between services has resulted in a better quality service and enhanced access to health services for a hard to reach cohort of the population. Outcomes: reduced duplication of screening and assessment reduced assessment waiting times decentralisation of assessments from statutory clinics to the wider community Comments on sustainability: We designed a comprehensive implementation plan, reviewed iteratively by a multi-disciplinary team which represents the sectors described herein. This ensures fidelity to the integrated care framework. This consultation process continually informs how best to respond to successes and challenges in order to ensure sustainability. Comments on transferability: The continued work on this initiative provides a guiding framework that can be replicated in other regions and sectors. The pre- and postimplementation strategy employed to-date has proven to work with a heterogeneous population. Conclusions: (comprising key findings) To date this initiative has provided an integrated and coordinated care approach across two sectors inclusive of an Irish Prison. Integrated care across statutory, community and voluntary organisations has now been established in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the main foods determining saturated fatty acid (SFA) intakes and model the impact of food exchanges to improve compliance with dietary fat recommendations in Irish children., Design: Estimated food and nutrient intakes were obtained from a cross-sectional study, the National Children's Food Survey II. Participants were categorised into low, medium, and high SFA consumers, and the contribution of food categories to SFA intakes were compared. A food-exchange model was developed, whereby a selected range of high SFA foods were exchanged with lower SFA or unsaturated fat alternatives., Setting: Participants were randomly selected from primary schools throughout the Republic of Ireland., Participants: A representative sample of 600 Irish children (5-12 years)., Results: The main determinants of low and high SFA consumers were milk, cheese, and butter. These foods, including snack foods, and meat and meat products, were considered e xchangeable foods within the model. Compared with baseline data, modelled intakes for total fat, SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and trans -fat presented decreases of 3.2, 2.7, 1.6 and <0.1% of total energy (% TE), respectively. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), omega 6, omega 3 and alpha-linolenic acid showed increases of 1.0, 0.8, 0.2 and 0.1% TE, respectively. Compliance with total fat, MUFA and trans -fat recommendations remained adequate (100%). Adherence to SFA and PUFA recommendations improved from 18 to 63%, and 80 to 100%, respectively., Conclusion: The food-exchange model decreased SFA intakes and increased PUFA intakes, suggesting modest dietary changes to children's diets can effectively improve their overall dietary fat profile.