Dietitians’ Use of the Internet as a Resource For Nutrition Information

Abstract

Studies are needed to assess how dietetic professionals are incorporating information technology into their practice. A two-page survey was mailed to a stratified, random sample of 250 NEDPG members in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Ninety-three returned surveys were useable (37% response rate). Ninety-eight percent of the respondents were female. Approximately 50% of the respondents were > 41 years of age, with 39% in the 41-50 age group. Most (74%) of the respondents have worked more than 10 years as consulting dietitians. Half had been registered for at least 15 years. Ninety-eight percent (n=91) have access to a computer; 81% of those have Internet access (n=75). Of those with access, 23% use the Internet daily and 77% use it weekly. Eighty-five percent use it for both professional and personal purposes. Only 4% use it for personal use only. The most frequent uses of the Internet were: to update nutrition knowledge (n=53), explore current topics (n=44), and obtaining product information (n=26). Those participating in a listserv (n=19) used either Dietetics Online (n=8) or an ADA-related listserv (n=11) most often. However, only 5 respondents indicated that the Internet was their primary resource for professional purposes. Approximately one-third (n=26) referred their clients to the Internet, most often to the ADA site (www.eatright.org). Further studies are needed to confirm these results since most of the respondents to this survey were computer users. In addition, studies to characterize and compare the use of information technology and other emerging technologies among the various dietetics specialties are recommended.