Abstract
A survey was conducted of all registered dietitians (RD) in Pennsylvania and Ohio to assess RD attitudes towards various area of practice (AOP) in order to determine if there are positive or negative attitudes towards specific AOP. The survey questionnaire consisted of a 15 point semantic differential scale that measured certain characteristics (e.g., sincerity, accuracy, currentness, objectivity, effectiveness, accuracy, elegance, speed, warmth, complexity, relevance, femininity, openness, interest, and value), a descriptive questionnaire and a prestige scale to rank the AOP by prestige. 1119 surveys were returned with respondents falling in the following AOP: 35% clinical, 11% community, 18% consulting or private practice, 15% management, 8% education and research, and 3% from business and industry. The average age of respondents was 37.7 years with an average of 12 years of practice in dietetics. Results of the semantic differential scale and the prestige ranking scale were summarized within each AOP as well as for overall respondents. Education and research was ranked highest in prestige, followed by business and industry, consultation and private practice, clinical, management and community, respectively. RD within each AOP tended to rate their own AOP higher than RD from other AOP. The semantic differential scale ranked all AOP similarly with all AOP being rated rather high on all positive characteristics although the numeric scores mimicked the prestige rankings. Their own AOP higher than any other AOP rated it. Thus, the results of this study suggest that RD have a positive attitude towards the traits of RD in general. However, there is a need for RD from different AOP to interact more and promote their AOP so that other RD develop an appreciation for all AOP and their professionalism. In addition, improving the prestige of lower ranked AOP may aid in increasing salaries as well as attracting more talented individuals to those AOP.
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