title: Prevalence of outsourcing and perception of clinical nutrition managers on performance of health care dietetics services.
abstract: A nationwide survey of clinical dietitians and clinical nutrition managers was conducted to assess the prevalence of outsourcing in health care dietetics services and to evaluate perceived performance of dietetics services. A questionnaire was developed, validated by an expert panel, and pilot tested prior to data collection. Members of the Clinical Nutrition Management Dietetic Practice Group (N=1,668) were selected as the study sample. Of 431 respondents, 152 (35.3%) indicated that management of both patient and cafeteria foodservices was outsourced. When mean scores of perceived performance ratings were compared using t test, respondents from self-operated facilities rated several items related to patient and cafeteria food quality and material and human resource utilization higher than respondents at contract-managed facilities. No significant differences were found in performance related to decision-making process, buying power, or training programs. Results suggest that careful weighing of advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing is needed before making decisions regarding outsourcing dietetics services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, PO Box 425888, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204-5888, USA. jkwon@twu.edu
authors.forename: Junehee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Barbara J H
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D004046:Dietetics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D020416:Outsourced Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce