Research and the Clinical Dietitian: Some Perceptions of the Research Process, Potential Barriers to Participation, and Routes to Skill Enrichment

Abstract

The profession of dietetics is rooted in research, and while the philosophical commitment to participating in research has been a part of the profession since its inception, the reality is that clinical dietitians do not often participate in research. Six focus group sessions were held with clinical dietitians in Tennessee (n=35) and 3 sessions were held at the 1998 ADA Annual Meeting (n=18) in order to address this issue. All sessions were facilitated using a structured question format, where similar issues were addressed at each of the 9 separate sessions. Attendees recognized the importance that research findings play in their practice, but barriers to participation were widely realized. Several attendees indicated that they had ideas or questions that would merit research. However, lack of time to pursue such interests was a common concern. Further, low comfort levels with initiating and conducting research were problematic. While many attendees had participated in research projects as a part of their educational and professional preparation for dietetics, these experiences were not generally viewed as applicable to the clinical arena in which they now work. Lastly, seeing clinical dietetics as separate from research dietetics was a primary topic of discussion. Dietitians' perceived needs in order to facilitate involvement in the research process included collaborating with an academic dietitian, thereby fostering a mentoring relationship. Further, having a clinical manager that is supportive of dietetics staff in their efforts to participate in research with other health care professionals was also key. The realities of time and money constraints were pervasive, and while gaining administrative support was seen as a key to surmounting this barrier, few attendees had had success with this strategy. These focus groups provided a snapshot of clinical dietitians' views of their place in the research process. Given that changes in the healthcare environment are going to require increased involvement in the research process by those members of the profession that actively engage in patient care, these findings offer valuable insight into promising ways to address potential barriers.