Year
2024
Season
Summer
Paper Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
Brooks College of Health
Degree Name
Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN)
Department
Nutrition & Dietetics
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
First Advisor
Dr. Casey Colin
Second Advisor
Dr. Constantina Papoutsakis
Third Advisor
Dr. Sherri Lewis
Department Chair
Dr. Andrea Arikawa
College Dean
Dr. Mei Zhao
Abstract
As emerging investigations support utilization of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and associated terminology (NCPT) in various settings, negative attitudes towards the NCP/T held by some dietetics professionals have been suggested to reduce implementation. Previous studies have captured attitude and related variables among various populations; although, those actively involved in the NCP educational process (educators, preceptors, and students undergoing supervised practice) have not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of this cross-sectional investigation was to assess the attitudes towards the NCP/T and associated implementation intentions among dietetics educators, preceptors, and students undergoing supervised practice and identify determinants of implementation. An online instrument developed from content from the previously validated International Nutrition Care Process Implementation Survey (INIS) and a newly validated 3-item proficiency questionnaire was distributed to the prospective participants through a mixed-method sampling strategy that included a combination of randomized, volunteer, and snowball modes. The participants that met the inclusion criteria consisted of 89 educators, 52 preceptors, 23 preceptor-educators, and 13 students undergoing supervised practice. Inferential analysis of data collected demonstrated that educators (Mdn = 3.94) and students (Mdn = 3.94) had significantly more positive attitude scores (p = .005) than preceptors (Mdn = 3.63); however, there were no significant differences in implementation rates between categories. Furthermore, attitudes (r =.22, p = .004), perceived NCP/T competency (r = .3, p < .001), assessed proficiency (r = .23, p = .003), level of degree earned (r =.23, p = .003), and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership (r = .26, p = .001), were found to have significant, small-to-medium relationships with implementation. Further examination of included populations and variables and other suggested factors is indicated to fully understand identified relationships and develop a regression model to predict NCP/T implementation.
Suggested Citation
LaBonte, Luc R., "Attitudes towards the nutrition care process and nutrition care process terminology among United States dietetics educators, preceptors, and students undergoing supervised practice" (2024). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1281.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/1281