Objective: This study aimed to: 1) describe the current state of research activity/involvement and capacity among selected tertiary level government and private hospital dietitians; 2) identify factors associated with research capacity and involvement; and 3) develop policy recommendations to improve the current research activity/involvement towards evidence-based practice among hospital dietitians.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of randomly selected 181 hospital dietitians from selected hospitals in Metro Manila completed a pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire, which elicited the socio-demographic characteristics, research activity/involvement, research capacity, perception, attitude and knowledge (PAK) of the respondents.

Descriptive statistics were generated. Pearson Correlation was determined between socio-demographic characteristics and research activity/involvement score and research capacity score. Linear multiple regression analysis was conducted to test whether perceptions, attitudes and knowledge score are factors that predicted research activity/involvement and research capacity.

Results: No significant difference was observed in hospital dietitians' research capacity scores based on gender, age, educational attainment, hospital affiliation, and job description. Majority (97%) of the hospital dietitians had very little participation (10%) or involvement in any type of research activity/involvement. The significant factors that were predictive of research activity/involvement scores and research capacity scores were percent of time for research and hours per week devoted to research, respectively. Percent of time for research was significantly predictive of research knowledge of respondents.

Conclusion: The findings in this present study showed the research activity/involvement and capacity of hospital dietitians in Metro Manila were dismally low. The significant factors that were predictive of research activity/involvement scores and research capacity scores were percent of time for research and hours per week devoted to research, respectively. To support the development of research capacity and involvement of hospital dietitians, policy-makers and healthcare organizations can optimize capability-building strategies at the academic level, hospital dietitian level, and institutional level.

Objectives: The study aimed to validate a high resolution melting (HRM) – polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method for analysis of ATP2B1 rs2681472, a candidate genetic marker for hypertension. Specifically, the study aimed to establish method accuracy, inter- and intra-day precision, instrument detection limits (IDL) and linearity. Methodology: DNA samples from whole blood of selected respondents of the 2008 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) were analyzed for ATP2B1 rs2681472, following the HRM-PCR method. Analytical validation parameters such as method accuracy, inter- and intra-day precision, IDL and assay linearity were evaluated. Results: The data obtained using HRM conformed to data obtained from the current gold standard, which is direct DNA sequence analysis. Precision of the method is shown in the low intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation of 0.11% and 0.14% respectively. The IDL was found at 1x10-2 ng DNA. Correlation coefficient using the method has met the acceptance criteria for linearity that is equal to 0.98. Conclusion HRM-PCR was successfully applied for analysis of ATP2B1 rs2681472. HRM is a highly commendable tool that can identify existence of polymorphisms in a genome which may be related to or which may cause hypertension. The method was found to be accurate and precise.
Hypertension