title: Diabetes training for dietitians: needs assessment, program description, and effects on knowledge and problem solving.
abstract: Recent changes in management and medical nutrition therapy for diabetes mellitus have produced a need to retrain many practicing dietitians. To meet this need, a multidisciplinary group experienced in medical nutrition therapy and educational methods used a formal needs-assessment process to design a new training program. Sugar is Not a Poison (SNAP): The Dietitian's New Role in Diabetes Management is a 2 1/2-day program that uses written text, didactic presentation, and exercises that simulate patient encounters to accomplish 12 learning objectives. Program evaluations show high levels of participant satisfaction. Mean (+/- standard deviation) scores on pre- and postests of knowledge and problem solving were 69 +/- 13% and 86 +/- 9%, respectively (P < 0.01). The SNAP program needs assessment, training methods, and knowledge problem-solving test are relevant to all types of education programs in clinical dietetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, IL 61637, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Schlundt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wermager
mesh_terms: D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011340:Problem Solving; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States