Exploring eating behaviours and psychosocial outcomes after a CGM-assisted dietary intervention in adults with type 2 diabetes

Established Supervisor: Dr Evelyn Parr, MMIHR <evelyn.parr@acu.edu.au>
Emerging Supervisor: Dr Lachlan Mitchell, Nutrition and Dietetics, FHS
Third Supervisor: Dr Brooke Devlin (University of Queensland, external)

Project Description

Individuals with type 2 diabetes are regularly included in clinical trials which investigate dietary and/or exercise advice. However, there is a large gap between what is conducted in a clinical trial and what exists in the “real world” for people with type 2 diabetes. This project aims to capture the experience with and utilisation of health care services to manage type 2 diabetes, with regards to nutrition and physical activity/exercise. This project will involve qualitative interviews with individuals with type 2 diabetes, to help understand barriers and facilitators to making changes to behaviours to manage diabetes and inform future research.

Description of the research internship opportunity

Within the MMIHR, we are conducting multiple human research projects. We obtain information from participants through body composition scans, blood sampling and analysis, exercise tests and questionnaires, as well as dietary records. Through the honours project, the student will be immersed in the research team to obtain experience in our various projects from ethics application and participant recruitment through to data collection and final analysis. The internship opportunity would allow the student to build upon and broaden their research experience throughout their honours year.
 

Effectiveness of Implementation of an Ortho-geriatric Clinical Pathway for Fractured Neck of Femur Admissions 

Established Supervisor: A/Professor Adrienne Forsyth <Adrienne.Forsyth@acu.edu.au> 
Emerging Supervisor: Dr Lachlan Mitchell 
Third Supervisor: Dr Adam Walsh

Project Description

Elderly patients with fractured neck of femur are often malnourished on admission. Malnutrition can lead to delayed recovery, an increased length of stay, and increased risk of postoperative complications. Blanket referral to dietetic services and implementation of strategies to prevent or manage malnutrition enables access to dietetic services without the need for screening of this high-risk group. This project will assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the ortho-geriatric clinical pathway with a retrospective audit of dietetic interventions and nutrition outcomes.

Description of the research internship opportunity

Students engaged in this project will have the opportunity to develop research skills and experience through participation in ongoing related research activities at ACU and St Vincent’s Hospital. These include, but are not limited to, analysing food record data of completed studies, contributing to systematic reviews exploring related topics, collecting and analysing data for ongoing quality assessment studies, and contributing to the development and validation of new patient-reported experience measures. Further, there will be opportunity to collaborate with discipline staff on other ongoing projects which may afford the opportunity to gain experience across diverse methods and/or areas of expertise.

Vegetable Content and Nutrition Claims in Single-Serve Chilled and Frozen Meals: A Retail Audit

Established Supervisor: Dr Emma Beckett <Emma.beckett@acu.edu.au> 
Emerging Supervisors: Rachel Svenson & Karen Kingham

Project Description

Convenience meals, including single-serve chilled and frozen products, are increasingly relied upon by consumers due to time constraints and accessibility. These products often include claims relating to vegetable content, such as “serves of vegetables,” “plant-based,” or “packed with veggies,” which may influence purchasing decisions and perceptions of healthfulness. However, there is limited independent assessment of the actual vegetable content of these products and the accuracy or consistency of related on-pack claims.

This project aims to conduct a retail audit of single-serve chilled and frozen meals available in major Australian supermarkets, examining the quantity and type of vegetables present alongside the nature of any vegetable-related claims. The study will utilise ingredient lists, nutrition information panels, and front-of-pack labelling to assess alignment between claims and product composition. Findings will contribute to understanding how vegetable content is communicated in the retail environment and may inform future labelling guidance, consumer education, and research in food regulation and public health nutrition.

Description of the research internship opportunity

The student will have the opportunity to develop skills in food composition analysis, food labelling interpretation, and retail food environment research. Activities will include designing and implementing a supermarket audit protocol, data collection and management, and quantitative analysis of product attributes and claims. There will also be opportunities to contribute to knowledge translation activities, such as preparing reports or summaries for stakeholders and supporting manuscript development for publication. The student will be embedded within the Nutrition & Food Science research team, with opportunities to engage in related projects exploring the food supply and consumer nutrition.