Continued need for increased emphasis on aging in dietetics education.
This study examined the content on aging in dietetics curricula via the Internet and a follow-up questionnaire. Only 14% to 15% of programs were not online. The 203 undergraduate and 88 graduate program Web sites listed 44 (22%) undergraduate and 39 (44%) graduate courses in aging. However, more maternal and child courses were listed. The number of undergraduate aging courses was similar to the 20% reported in 1989, although methodologies differed among the studies. Life cycle and community nutrition courses had the most aging content. More than half of program directors were not satisfied with the aging curriculum content. Integrating aging material into existing courses was the most acceptable way of increasing aging content. The common barriers were "curriculum already full" and "lack of faculty expertise." As the nation's changing demographics are reshaping the dietetics marketplace, a greater emphasis on aging would enable students to be more effective in serving this booming population.
Rhee
Lauren Q
LQ
Bionutrition Core, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Wellman
Nancy S
NS
Castellanos
Victoria H
VH
Himburg
Susan P
SP
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003479:Curriculum; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching; D014481:United States