Linking clinical dietetic practice with educational development in Tennessee

Abstract

Does the setting for health care delivery affect the development of competence in clinical dietetics? A survey was conducted to compare clinical dietetic practice in hospitals and in public health agencies in Tennessee. It was found that the nature of practitioners--their demographic characteristics, credentials, and roles in practice--could not be differentiated. There was, however, a difference between groups when the high-priority counseling performance situations (problem-solving encounters) were compared, suggesting that there is a difference in competence needed for clinical dietetic practice. A Delphi probe was conducted among educators and practitioners in Tennessee to identify anticipated priorities among clients' needs and problems in future counseling intervention without regard to the setting for health care delivery. In clinical education, selecting a general set of performance situations representative of practice in a variety of settings enables practitioners to develop breadth of competence. Future practitioners need to be able to modify and create roles to address societal needs and expectations in systems not yet envisioned. The articulation of dietetic and public health nutrition education programs that have a common purpose is a step in that direction.