We've spent a fair bit of time looking at the various ways in which the Internet facilitates our professional learning and development.  Another major way that the Internet can enhance and shape our dietetic practice, however, is by allowing us to more effectively monitor health- and nutrition-related interests of the public.  This, in turn, allows us to respond more proactively and appropriately.
 

• There are literally tens of thousands (maybe even hundreds of thousands) of listservs and newsgroups on the Internet today.  Many of these are not professional in nature, but they still allow us to gain insight into what the general public thinks or believes about a wide variety of subject areas. 
• One excellent site that helps locate listservs about a wide variety of subjects can be found at http://www.liszt.com/ 
• Another site that allows you to easily browse newsgroup postings about specific subjects can be found at http://www.dejanews.com/ 

• There are also a number of good online news sites (newspapers, television networks, etc.) which also provide information about current "hot" health and nutrition topics. 

Monitoring public interests about health and nutrition-related subjects will help us respond appropriately and proactively.  While the web will never totally take the place of face-to-face interactions with people, there are many ways in which it can be used.  Let's take a closer at how the online environment can be used in innovative ways to work with the public!

Copyright 2000-2001, Nu Connexions

www.nuconnexions.com/Enhance/monitor.htm
This page last updated August 13, 2001.