title: Reading skills of dietetic interns and readability of dietetics literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess and compare reading skills of dietetic interns with reading levels of internship references.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standardized reading test, the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, measured reading skills of entering dietetic interns over 7 years. A computerized readability program assessed the readability of references.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietetic internships in university and Veterans Affairs hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 194 entering interns, 178 (92%) were included and 16 (89%) were omitted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nelson-Denny percentile and grade equivalent scores for vocabulary, comprehension, and total. The Fog Index identified reference reading-grade levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interns from the two programs did not differ significantly on Nelson-Denny Reading Test scores or in application grade point average. Percentile means and standard deviations were 54.7 +/- 23.8 for vocabulary, 51.2 +/- 25.0 for comprehension, 52.9 +/- 23.9 for total, and 41.6 +/- 24.7 for reading rate. Nearly 20% (33 of 178) of interns read significantly below expected grade level. The fog Index assigned reference grade levels from 6.98 to 21.63 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of dietetic interns have strong reading skills and read within the references' reading levels. A minority may experience difficulties reading assignments. Preinternship reading skills assessment could lead to greater success in reading professional literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, College of Health Related Professions, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Koury
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tysinger
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hynak-Hankinson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical; D008297:Male; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011932:Reading; D013782:Textbooks as Topic