EBN study plan

Distinguish the core study designs (RCT, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, systematic review) by listing what each can and cannot establish about causality

Map the evidence hierarchy and justify where guideline recommendations, meta-analyses, and single trials sit relative to one another

Compute and interpret sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and likelihood ratios from a 2x2 table you construct yourself

Define relative risk, odds ratio, absolute risk reduction, NNT, and confidence intervals, and explain why a statistically significant result may be clinically trivial

Appraise a primary research article for internal validity by identifying bias risks in selection, measurement, blinding, attrition, and confounding

Explain how randomization, allocation concealment, and intention-to-treat analysis protect against specific threats to validity

Differentiate systematic reviews, meta-analyses, scoping reviews, and narrative reviews by their methods and appropriate use

Describe the macronutrient energy values and the roles of protein, carbohydrate, and fat in meeting energy and substrate needs

Trace digestion, absorption, and transport of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, and identify where malabsorption or enzyme deficiency disrupts each pathway

Outline the metabolic roles of the fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins and the clinical signs of deficiency and toxicity for each

Describe the functions, absorption, and regulatory roles of sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron

Explain energy expenditure components (basal metabolic rate, thermic effect of food, activity) and the factors that shift them

Select appropriate anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary intake measures for a given patient scenario and justify each choice

Interpret a set of lab values against reference ranges and explain how inflammation, hydration, and renal function alter their meaning

Apply the nutrition care process and write PES (problem, etiology, signs and symptoms) statements that are specific and etiology-driven

Identify which malnutrition screening and assessment tools apply to which populations and state their limitations

Calculate energy, protein, fluid, and micronutrient requirements for adults using at least two methods and reconcile discrepancies between them

Design a nutrition intervention for oral, enteral, and parenteral routes, stating indications, contraindications, and transition criteria for each

Set SMART goals and select the appropriate intervention domain (food and nutrient delivery, education, counseling, coordination) for a given diagnosis

Draft counseling talking points that account for health literacy, culture, budget, and readiness to change

Choose monitoring indicators and a re-evaluation timeline matched to the intervention and the acuity of the condition

Write outcome statements that distinguish process, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes and specify how each will be measured

Explain the evidence base linking dietary pattern, sodium, potassium, and weight to hypertension and cardiovascular risk

Summarize glycemic management principles in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, including carbohydrate consistency and the role of weight reduction

Compare prevention and management approaches for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease, noting where guidance conflicts

Apply ethical principles to scenarios involving scope of practice, informed consent, conflicts of interest, and referral obligations

Demonstrate plain-language explanation of a nutrition recommendation and document it in a SOAP-style note

Describe how to interpret and communicate uncertainty and conflicting evidence to a patient or colleague without overstating certainty

Synthesize all domains by working through timed mixed-topic case sets and classifying each error by domain and error type

Re-derive from memory the calculation formulas, evidence appraisal criteria, and PES format without notes

Review the weakest two domains identified by practice performance and close the specific gaps found

Rehearse explaining your reasoning aloud for ambiguous items so that justification, not just the answer, is defensible