Personal attributes and job competencies needed by EFNEP paraprofessionals as perceived by EFNEP professionals.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the personal attributes and job competencies that are necessary for the job success of Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) paraprofessionals as perceived by EFNEP professionals.


METHODS
A qualitative descriptive design and a 3-round modified Delphi methodology was used.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 14 state and 20 county EFNEP professionals participated in all 3 Delphi rounds. The response rates for state and county professionals for all 3 Delphi rounds were 70% and 91%, respectively.


METHODS
Personal attributes and job competencies were generated and the level of importance was determined.


METHODS
An independent t test was employed to determine differences between importance scores by professional position.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven personal attributes, 18 job competencies prior to hire, and 43 job competencies after training were generated and the majority were very important to important. County EFNEP professionals tended to score personal attributes and job competencies as more important than state EFNEP professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
These personal attributes and job competencies prior to hire can guide hiring decisions and initial training content. The job competencies after training can shape content for inservice training.
Wakou
Betty A
BA
Cooperative Extension Community Nutrition Education Programs, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Keim
Kathryn S
KS
Williams
Glenna S
GS
D000328:Adult; D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000592:standards*; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D011361:Professional Competence; D014481:United States