Why I Still Love Writing Clinical Articles

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One of the things I enjoy most about my work as a specialist gastroenterology dietitian is writing.
Not because I particularly enjoy staring at a blank Word document (although there is something satisfying about finally getting the first paragraph written!), but because writing forces me to think.
Whenever I agree to write an article, I know I'm committing myself to spending hours reading guidelines, reviewing the latest evidence and asking myself one simple question:
"How do I translate this into something that genuinely helps clinicians in practice?"
Recently I had the opportunity to write an article for CN Magazine on the nutritional management of fistulising Crohn's disease.
Although fistulising Crohn's disease affects only a proportion of people living with Crohn's, it is one of the most complex areas of inflammatory bowel disease. Patients often experience recurrent infection, surgery, nutritional compromise and a considerable psychological burden, meaning dietetic input needs to extend far beyond simply discussing food.
Writing the article reminded me why I value these opportunities so much. They keep me learning.
Five things I took away from writing this article
1. There is still surprisingly little nutrition-specific guidance.
One of the biggest surprises was discovering that, although excellent medical guidelines exist, there remains relatively limited evidence specifically addressing nutritional management in fistulising Crohn's disease.
Much of what we do as dietitians involves applying broader IBD nutrition principles alongside clinical judgement and tailoring care to the individual.
2. Nutrition is about far more than calories. Patients may lose weight, develop micronutrient deficiencies or require enteral or parenteral nutrition, but the nutritional challenges often begin much earlier.
Pain, fear of eating, reduced appetite, malabsorption and high-output fistulae all contribute to nutritional risk. Understanding why someone is struggling to eat is just as important as calculating what they need.
3. Psychology matters.
One of the sections I particularly enjoyed researching explored the psychological impact of fistulising disease.
Many patients develop understandable anxiety around food, social situations and symptom flare-ups. Sometimes one of the most valuable things we can do is help rebuild confidence around eating rather than simply prescribing another nutritional supplement.
4. Evidence has to work in real life.
Research may show benefits from approaches such as exclusive enteral nutrition, but successful care also depends on whether someone can realistically follow the plan.
As clinicians we constantly balance the evidence with the person's lifestyle, preferences and priorities. That's where clinical judgement becomes so important.
5. Writing makes me a better clinician.
Every article I write changes something about my practice.
Sometimes it's a new piece of evidence.
Sometimes it's a different way of explaining something to patients.
Sometimes it's simply greater confidence that what I'm recommending is supported by the latest research.
For me, writing isn't separate from clinical practice, it is part of it.