title: Perceptions of clinical dietetic practice: continuing education and standards.
abstract: A survey to examine dietitians' perceptions of the effects of continuing education on dietetic practice and use of standards to measure quality practice was conducted. Continuing education approved for maintenance of professional registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and continuing education not applicable for registration status (non-CDR) were studied. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 484 registered dietitians from the northeast United States who had been employed in health care institutions for 3 years or more. A response rate of 40% was obtained. The investigation showed a significantly greater perceived improvement in practice from non-CDR continuing education over a 3-year period than from CDR-approved continuing education. Respondents obtaining less than 30 hours of non-CDR and CDR continuing education over a 3-year period derived a significantly smaller perceived improvement in practice than did respondents obtaining more than 30 hours. Personal standards were used to the greatest extent (87%), followed by standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (68%), to measure quality practice. This study indicates that practitioners focusing on improving their practice will want to consider the contributions of informal work-related activities as well as CDR-approved continuing education.
authors.affiliation: State University College, Buffalo, NY 14222.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Reddout
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States