Can distance education prepare future public health nutritionists? A case study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess student retention, readiness, support and outcomes among students completing the Professional Practice Program in Nutrition (PPPN).


METHODS
Qualitative evaluation using semistructured, in-depth interviews conducted with PPPN graduates. Course grades, grade point averages, and comprehensive exam results compared 10 PPPN students from 2 cohorts and 72 residential students from 3 cohorts.


METHODS
The Professional Practice Program in Nutrition was a 3-year, pilot public health nutrition master's (MPH) degree curriculum using distance education (DE) strategies.


METHODS
Ethnograph was used to assist with qualitative data analysis. Fisher exact test was used to compare quantitative outcomes.


RESULTS
Qualitative findings revealed that PPPN students were highly motivated, sought out the DE MPH and initially had great support from family and employers; however, support from employers waned over time. Although several challenges to continued enrollment confronted PPPN students, those who completed the MPH all advanced in the workplace. Course grades and grade point averages were similar between the 2 groups. Students in the PPPN were more likely than residential students to retake the comprehensive exam.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that DE strategies were suitable to deliver an MPH curriculum in nutrition. The majority of PPPN graduates experienced job advancement and demonstrated leadership development.
Laraia
Barbara A
BA
Department of Medicine, Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0856, USA. laraiab@chc.ucsf.edu
Dodds
Janice M
JM
Benjamin
Sara
S
Jones
Sonya J
SJ
Carbone
Elena T
ET
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040443:Students, Public Health / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States