AN ANALYSIS OF THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OF REGISTERED DIETITIANS IN A METROPOLITAN AREA.

Abstract

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150 p.

The problem of this study was to investigate the nature and extent of continuing professional learning and opinion concerning continuing professional learning issues of registered dietitians. The subjects were registered dietitians employed full-time in the Chicago metropolitan area. From a population of 453, a random sample was drawn. Returns from the mailed questionnaire numbered 205 of which 194 or 84.3 percent were usable.The study examined the extent to which selected variables influenced continuing professional learning. The independent variables were age, highest degree earned, current student status, years in dietetic practice, nature of current position, place of employment, years in present position, and number of registered dietitians employed in the institution. Dependent variables were three types of continuing professional learning. The first included all learning activities eligible for American Dietetic Association (ADA) continuing education credit. In-service education provided by employers, but not eligible for ADA credit, was a second area. Thirdly, self-initiated learning activities not eligible for ADA credit were included. Clock hours of continuing professional learning were reported for a six-month period. The three categories were summed to provide total hours of continuing professional learning.Results of the survey showed that all but two dietitians had participated in continuing professional learning. A total of 22,809 hours of continuing professional learning was reported by respondents during a six-month period, a mean of 117.6 hours per dietitian or 19.6 hours per month.Results indicated that significantly more hours were devoted to activities not eligible for ADA continuing education credit than to activities which were eligible. Significantly more hours were devoted to self-initiated learning than to in-service education provided by employers. Dietitians were not interested only in learning activities for credentialing purposes.A correlation was established between highest degree earned and total hours of continuing professional learning. An advanced degree was the best predictor of participation in continuing learning. Positive correlations were found between both size of staff and years in the current position and mean hours of in-service education. There were negative correlations between both years in dietetic practice and age and mean hours of self-initiated learning.Nature of current position and place of employment were other variables. Dietitians employed in research positions reported the highest total mean hours of continuing professional learning. Mean hours of ADA-approved activities were highest among those employed in business and in colleges and universities. In-service education was greatest among those employed in hospitals while self-initiated learning was greatest among those employed in colleges and universities.All but 22 respondents reported hours of self-initiated learning. Professional reading was reported most frequently, followed by consultation with other dietitians.The majority of dietitians indicated that their continuing education needs were met. Larger numbers indicated that Association programs and self-initiated activities best met their continuing education needs. Preference for the provider of continuing education showed that the majority preferred dietetic associations to provide programs. Almost an equal number believed that employers should sponsor more educational programs. Large numbers indicated that self-initiated learning activities and Association programs had increased their competence to practice. Approximately one-third of the dietitians agreed that they needed assistance in planning their professional development and about 40 percent believed that they needed assistance in finding resources for professional development.