Effective Management of Dietetic Education Programs Using a Utilization Focused Approach; A New Leadership Opportunity for Dietetic Educators

Abstract

Text: Patton’s utilization focused evaluation model is widely used to evaluate programs in education, public health, and social services, and emphasizes that effective program evaluations must include useful information. The purpose of this research was to determine the data most effective for program improvement in dietetic education, and how data from student learning is used. The methodology included administering a 27-item survey to all directors of dietetic education programs. The response rate was 52%. Results indicated that the most useful and most often used information was student course or rotation evaluations with 77.0% of respondents rating this data as useful. Least useful and least used information was scores on a program generated comprehensive exam. Comparison of mean response scores based on program type produced numerous significant differences among means, indicating that different types of dietetic education programs judge usefulness of data sources differently. Post hoc comparisons yielded no patterns. Survey respondents also indicated a high level of use of data from student learning with 90.7% of respondents either using or planning to use student-learning outcomes. The findings of high levels of use and enthusiasm for use of student learning data are quite different than the low levels often reported in the literature. As federal and state education agencies intensify their calls for increased measurement of student learning, administrators in institutions that house dietetic programs should turn to dietetic educators who not only have expertise in this area, but are enthusiastic advocates for the use of this data for program improvement.