Computer Skills Needed by Dietitians at Health Care Facilities

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Computer skills are an important asset to dietitians who work in management careers at health care facilities. One hundred eighty-one dietitians (45% response) who were members of either the Management in Health Care Systems or Clinical Nutrition Management practice groups participated in a mail survey focusing on computer skills and training. The majority of respondents had a graduate degree and more than 20 years of work experience. Forty-three percent worked in an acute care facility with a census range of 101–250 being most common. Eighty percent indicated use of a computer at home. These dietitians rated their skills as highest for electronic mail and word processing and lowest for statistical analysis, database management, calendar, graphics, presentations and Internet applications. Statistical analysis indicated that perceived computer skill levels of these dietitians were positively correlated to home computer use (rs=0.91) and number of years worked (rs=0.82). Results indicated that the most common general software applications available to these dietitians in the workplace were word processing, spreadsheet and electronic mail. Respondents considered ordering food/supplies, inventory management, recipe scaling and menu/recipe costing to be the most important applications in foodseryice management while patient status/diet order and nutrient analysis applications were most important in the clinical nutrition area. Dietetic educators should focus on these software applications when designing courses that teach computer skills. Required college courses, on-the-job training, elective college courses and independent study were recommended as the best methods for improving computer skills of current dietetic students.