title: Functions performed by level of practice of registered dietitian members of the diabetes care and education dietetic practice group.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine current professional practices of registered dietitians (RDs) in the Diabetes Care and Education dietetic practice group (DPG), analyzed by levels of practice: entry-level, specialty-practice, or advanced-level. The results of the Diabetes Care and Education DPG 2002-2003 membership survey were used for this study. The study was limited to RD members of the Diabetes Care and Education DPG who completed the membership survey in its entirety. Frequency distributions, chi2, Fisher exact test, and cluster analysis were performed with a prior alpha set at .10. Sixty-one (5.0%) RDs were functioning as an entry-level practitioner, 851 (69.1%) were functioning as a specialty-practice practitioner, and 320 (25.1%) as an advanced-level practitioner. Significantly more advanced-level practitioners were performing more tasks compared with entry-level practitioners. Entry-level RDs performed a mean of 2.4 functions, specialty-practice practitioners performed 7.7, and advanced-level practitioners performed 11.6 functions. The results of this survey further delineated that RDs function at various levels of practice and that credentials for RDs increased as level of practice advanced.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Health Related Professions, Stratford, USA.
authors.forename: Dania Mercadante
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan Maillet
authors.forename: Riva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Touger-Decker
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Byham-Gray
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matheson
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D011364:Professional Practice; D012380:Role; D013038:Specialization; D014481:United States