Guidance
Recommendations for research
Recommendations for research
The Programme Development Group (PDG) has made the following recommendations to plug the most important gaps in the evidence.
1 Research on nutrition
Who should take action?
Research commissioners and funders.
What action should they take?
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Commission research into effective ways of improving the nutritional status of pre‑conceptual women, pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children. This should identify effective ways of engaging with women both before and during pregnancy. It should pay particular attention to:
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teenage parents, low‑income families and families from minority ethnic or disadvantaged groups
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promoting oily fish, vegetable and fruit consumption
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helping women who may become pregnant, particularly those who are obese, to achieve a healthy body weight prior to pregnancy
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promoting uptake of folic acid supplements prior to conception and the uptake of vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
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Commission research into how best to encourage and support women to breastfeed exclusively during the first 6 months and how to ensure all women breastfeed for longer.
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Commission research on interventions which reduce the incidence of food allergy among infants and young children, particularly when introducing solid foods.
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Commission research into the acceptability of dietary and lifestyle interventions to improve the vitamin D status of mothers and children aged up to 5 years, particularly those from vulnerable groups. This should also assess the relative contribution made by exposing the skin to ultra‑violet light and dietary supplements.
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Commission research into the prevention of early dental caries among children aged up to 5 years, especially those from vulnerable groups. This should focus on children's drinks and snacks.
2 What to include in nutritional research and policy evaluation reports
Who should take action?
Research councils, national and local research commissioners and funders, research workers and journal editors.
What action should they take?
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Include as standard in nutritional research and policy evaluation reports:
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a clear, detailed description of what was delivered, over what period, to whom and in what setting
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the costs of delivering the intervention
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measurable and clearly defined health outcomes
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an estimation of the sample size required to demonstrate, with adequate statistical power, the impact on health
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differences in access, recruitment and (where relevant data are available) uptake according to socioeconomic and cultural variables such as social class, education, gender, income or ethnicity
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a description and rationale of the research methods and forms of interpretation used
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embedded process evaluations that include recipient perspectives (for example, using qualitative techniques such as interviews and focus groups).
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Develop methods for synthesising and interpreting results across studies conducted in different localities, policy environments and population groups.
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Formulate rigorous and transparent methods for assessing external validity and for translating evidence into practice.
3 Cost effectiveness of maternal and child nutrition interventions
Who should take action?
Policy makers, research funders and health economists.
What action should they take?
As a priority, commission research on the cost‑effectiveness of maternal and child nutrition interventions. This includes balancing the cost of primary prevention of nutrition‑related ill health against the costs of detecting and treating disease (both short and long term).
4 Routine growth and weight monitoring on child health and parenting behaviour
Who should take action?
Policy makers, research commissioners and local services.
What action should they take?
Commission research into the impact of routine growth and weight monitoring on child health and parenting behaviour.
More detail on all the evidence gaps identified during the development of this guidance is provided in appendix D.