Research is one of the main focus areas in our department. Starting in the third year, students are trained in all aspects of the research process. During the fourth year of study, students plan and conduct their own research projects. Two of these groups present their findings at the annual Faculty of Health Sciences Student Research forum. Students hold the name of the department very high during this prestigious event and have placed as follows over the last three year:

• 2021:
  • 2^nd prize for best student paper presented at the Faculty Forum: M Albertyn, A Koortzen, W Tsobolo, Dr NML Meko and Dr E du Toit (supervisors)
• 2022:
  • 1^st prize for best student paper presented at the Faculty Forum: S Lamprecht, M-L Lyons, G Steenkamp, A White, Prof VL van den Berg (supervisor)
• 2023:
  • 3^rd prize for best student paper presented at the Faculty Forum: N de Bruyn, D Perkins, M Verster, Dr NML Meko (supervisor)

Staff members also participate in the annual Faculty Research Forum with great success.  Results from the past five years (2019 - 2023) are as follows:

• 2019:
  • Winner John vd Riet medal for the best publication in the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS, Clinical section - R Tydeman-Edwards, FC van Rooyen, CM Walsh
  • Best clinical presentation in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – CM Walsh
• 2020:
  • Winner John van der Riet medal for the best publication in the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS, (Clinical) medal - VL van den Berg, M Mokhehle and J Raubenheimer
• 2021:
  • John van der Riet medal for the best publication in the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS, (Clinical) - HC Spies, VL van den Berg and M Nel
  • Runner-up for a clinical presentation in the junior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – HC Spies
  • Best clinical presentation in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – L Robb
  • Runner-up for a clinical presentation in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – CM Walsh
  • Best educational presentation in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – VL van den Berg
• 2022:
  • Runner-up for a clinical presentation in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – CM Walsh
  • Runner-up for a clinical poster in the seniot category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – E du Toit
    • 2023:
      • Best clinical presentation in the junior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – PT Jansen
      • Runner-up for a clinical presentation in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – EM Jordaan
      • Best clinical presentation in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – CM Walsh
      • Best clinical poster in the junior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – AC Carson-Porter
      • Best clinical poster in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – L Robb
      • Best clinical poster in the senior category at the Faculty Forum of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UFS – NML Meko

    • Research on post-graduate level is also very important to the department. Currently there are 19 students enrolled for the Master’s Degrees and 20 PhD students at the department

    • Staff and post-graduate students also compete in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition. The Three-Minute Thesis Competition or 3MT is an annual competition held in 200 universities around the world. It is open to PhD and master's students and challenges participants to present their research in just 180 seconds, in a way that is understood by an audience with no background in the research area. In 2021,  Angelique Carson-Porter won this prestigious competition for the Masters division in the Faculty of Health Sciences, while  Phozia Jansen was announced as the winner for the Masters division in 2023.  

      Current research projects within the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics:

      Please feel free to contact the department for more information on any of these projects.

      • Project title: Impact of a food supplement on the nutritional status of pregnant women and the birth outcomes of their offspring
      • Author(s): M Serfontein (PhD Dietetics), CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Effect of Rooibos and Lippia Tea on Markers of Oxidative Stress and Glycaemic Status in people living with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomised Controlled Trial
      • Author(s):C Appiah (PhD Dietetics), CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Development of nutritional recommendations based on the dietary intake and inflammatory index of women attending the antenatal clinic at Pelonomi Regional Hospital
      • Author(s): C Haasbroek (PhD Dietetics), CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Investigating the impact of the inflammatory potential of the maternal diet on DNA epigenetic variation in cord blood and the body composition of offspring
      • Author(s): M Beneke (PhD Dietetics), CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Impact of a nutrition supplementation programme on outcomes of pregnant women and their offspring in the Northern Cape
      • Author(s): C de Lange (PhD Dietetics), CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Strategy on optimizing nutritional status of infants through water, sanitation, and hygiene in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa
      • Author(s): TA Masia (D Nutrition), L van den Berg

         

      • Project title: Development and testing of a nutrition education toolkit for adolescents in Zimbabwe
      • Authro(s): C Tom (D Nutrition), L van den Berg

         

      • Project title: Development of a feeding protocol for the neonatal department at Pelonomi Hospital, Mangaung, South Africa
      • Author(s): H Williamson (PhD Dietetics), L van den Berg

         

      • Project title: Knowledge and Practices of Healthcare Professionals related to in-hospital management of Severe Acute Malnutrition in Maluti-a-Phofung
      • Author(s): D Mopeli (MSc Dietetics), L Meko, CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Infant feeding practices and growth at measured during immunisation visits at ages 10-weeksm 14-weeks and 6-months at a community health centre in the Free State
      • Author(s): C Hodkinson (MSc Dietetics), M Jordaan, CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Macronutrient requirements and intake in professional rugby players at Zebre Rugby Club, Italy
      • Author(s): M Meyer (MSc Dietetics), E du Toit, D Coetzee

         

      • Project title: Gastrointestinal symptoms and dietary modifications in Bloemfontein’s ultra-marathon runners.
      • Author(s): C Marais (MSc Dietetics), E du Toit, D Coetzee

         

      • Project title: Peri-operative nutritional status and nutritional outcomes of patients receiving pancreaticoduodenectomy on an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in Bloemfontein, South Africa
      • Author(s): MA Frey (MSc Dietetics), L van den Berg, E Spies

         

      • Project title: Nutritional status of children with disabilities in the Khomas region, Namibia
      • Author(s): M-L Jeffrey (MSc Dietetics), L van den Berg

         

      • Project title: South African dietitians' perspectives on use of flash glucose monitoring in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
      • Author(s): E du Toit, U Hallbauer and R Nel

         

      • Project title: A preoperative two week very low-calorie diet in persons scheduled for laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication
      • Author(s): M Price (MSc Dietetics), L van den Berg, L Robb

         

      • Project title: Nutritional Status and Knowledge of Maternal and Infant Nutrition of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Khomas Region, Namibia
      • Author(s): R Diergaardt (MSc Dietetics), M Jordaan, L Robb

         

        Project title: Body composition of HIV-exposed vs. HIV-unexposed infants from Botshabelo, South Africa

      • Author(s): R van Wyk (MSc Dietetics), CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Development and impact of a nutritional intervention programme on nutritional status, treatment outcome, and quality of life among patients with upper gastrointestinal tract cancer undergoing chemotherapy at the Nyeri County, Kenya
      • Author(s): A Kibui (PhD Dietetics), CM Walsh, L Robb

         

      • Project title: Development of an assessment tool for predicting anaemia risk among infants below six months
      • Author(s): A Shija (D Nutrition), M Jordaan, L van den Berg

         

      • Project title: Maternal nutritional status and growth and body composition of the neonates
      • Author(s): J Gouws (MSc Dietetics), M Jordaan, L Robb, CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Knowledge and practices of healthcare providers and reported treatment of patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in South Africa
      • Author(s): RAFFAELLA RODRIGUES BRAGA (MSc Dietetics), HC Spies, CM Walsh

         

      • Project title: Weight regain following bariatric Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass or Sleeve Gastrectomy in a South African setting
      • Author(s): Sunette Swart (MSc Dietetics), HC Spies, VL vd Berg
      • Project title: Evaluating the suitability of nutrition education material amongst patients with known non-communicable diseases in Bloemfontein
      • Author(s): E Rich (MSc Dietetics), Meko NML, Spies HC

         

      • Project title: The nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of healthcare providers managing patients receiving haemodialysis units in eThekwini, Kwa-Zulu Natal, a province of South Africa
      • Author(s): LS Govender (MSc Dietetics), Ebrahim Z (Stellenbosch University), Spies HC (University of the Free State)

       

       

2023 Faculty Forum winders in the department (from left to right): Phozia Jansen, Prof Corinna Walsh, Angelique Carson-Porter, Dr Liska Robb, Dr Marizeth Jordaan

Forum winners 2021

 2021 Faculty Forum winners in the department (from top left to bottom right): Prof Louise van den Berg, Mrs Ermi Spies, Prof Corinna Walsh, Dr Liska Robb

Forum winners 2013

 Elmine du Toit and Louise van den Berg won the junior and senior category for best clinical papers at the 2013 Faculty Research Forum respectively

 

Undergraduate research
 
A fourth-year student interviewing a participant during data collection