Dietetic Student Involvement in a Sports Nutrition Education Program for University Athletes

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a sports nutrition counseling experiential learning opportunity on self-efficacy and nutrition counseling skills in the undergraduate dietetic students and dietary goal adherence in collegiate athlete clients after receiving the student-led nutrition counseling intervention. Methods: This mixed methods design, using a thematic analysis and pre- and post-testing, was implemented at a mid-sized university in the Midwestern United States. There were fifteen undergraduate dietetic students and nine collegiate athletes. Results: Counseling confidence in the dietetic students improved significantly from session one to session three (p < 0.001). Conclusions and Implications: Similar programs can be implemented in undergraduate dietetic programs within the academic setting to provide a valuable nutrition resource for collegiate athletes and experience for dietetic students. Examining the program with a larger population can allow for analysis of a causal relationship between the intervention and measured outcomes.