Class
Article
College
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Department
English Department
Faculty Mentor
Heidi Wengreen
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Introduction: Interdisciplinary/interprofessional collaboration (IDC) is an important component of healthcare delivery through which providers can efficiently and effectively meet the diverse and complex care needs of patients/clients. Interprofessional education (IPE) enables the acquisition of skills needed for IDC. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) function as important members of interdisciplinary teams; as such, shifts in dietetic program accreditation standards currently require the incorporation of IPE in curricula. A broad exploration of interdisciplinary dietetic student attitudes is needed to pinpoint target areas of improvement in IPE to promote effective participation in future IDC among RDNs. Objectives: To examine overall dietetic student attitudes of interdisciplinary healthcare teams, as well as ascertain whether differences in attitudes exist in relation to various factors: career interest area (clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, community and public health nutrition, and ‘other’); location (Midwest, Northeast, Southeast or Puerto Rico, Southwest, and West); program type (Coordinated Program in Dietetics/CPD, Didactic Program in Dietetics/DPD, and Dietetic Internship/DI) level (undergraduate or graduate), and year of study. Methods: A digital survey utilizing Qualtrics software was distributed to program directors across the United States (60 CPD, 116 DPD, and 112 DI) via email. Directors were invited to extend the survey to their students. Survey content was comprised of the Attitudes Toward Interdisciplinary Healthcare Teams scale (ATIHCT), which is a validated 2-factor scale, and a series of demographic items. The two ATIHCT factors included the ‘outcomes of team-based care’ subscale (9 items), and the ‘efficiency of team-based care’ subscale (4 items), with higher subscale scores indicating more positive attitudes. Descriptive statistics (Mean, SD) conveyed overall perceptions of team-based care, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) examined group differences based on factors of interest. Results: 137 (87% of survey initiators) students were included. Respondents were predominantly female (93%), with an average age of 25.5 years. Mean student attitudes regarding 'outcomes team-based care' were 80% of the maximum score possible (45.67 out of 54; SD=4.52), and attitudes of 'efficiency of team-based care' were 75% of the maximum score possible (18.00 out of 24; SD=2.75). No significant group differences were detected in either subscale score for career area of interest, location, or program type/level/year. Conclusions: Students generally have positive perceptions of team-based care, and no differences are shown for attitudes in relation to career area of interest, location, or program type/level/year. Future research should explore the combined impact of these factors and other characteristics to direct efforts for IPE to encourage future competency in IDC among emerging RDNs.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-8-2022 12:00 AM
Included in
Dietetic Student Perceptions of Interdisciplinary Teams
Logan, UT
Introduction: Interdisciplinary/interprofessional collaboration (IDC) is an important component of healthcare delivery through which providers can efficiently and effectively meet the diverse and complex care needs of patients/clients. Interprofessional education (IPE) enables the acquisition of skills needed for IDC. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) function as important members of interdisciplinary teams; as such, shifts in dietetic program accreditation standards currently require the incorporation of IPE in curricula. A broad exploration of interdisciplinary dietetic student attitudes is needed to pinpoint target areas of improvement in IPE to promote effective participation in future IDC among RDNs. Objectives: To examine overall dietetic student attitudes of interdisciplinary healthcare teams, as well as ascertain whether differences in attitudes exist in relation to various factors: career interest area (clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, community and public health nutrition, and ‘other’); location (Midwest, Northeast, Southeast or Puerto Rico, Southwest, and West); program type (Coordinated Program in Dietetics/CPD, Didactic Program in Dietetics/DPD, and Dietetic Internship/DI) level (undergraduate or graduate), and year of study. Methods: A digital survey utilizing Qualtrics software was distributed to program directors across the United States (60 CPD, 116 DPD, and 112 DI) via email. Directors were invited to extend the survey to their students. Survey content was comprised of the Attitudes Toward Interdisciplinary Healthcare Teams scale (ATIHCT), which is a validated 2-factor scale, and a series of demographic items. The two ATIHCT factors included the ‘outcomes of team-based care’ subscale (9 items), and the ‘efficiency of team-based care’ subscale (4 items), with higher subscale scores indicating more positive attitudes. Descriptive statistics (Mean, SD) conveyed overall perceptions of team-based care, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) examined group differences based on factors of interest. Results: 137 (87% of survey initiators) students were included. Respondents were predominantly female (93%), with an average age of 25.5 years. Mean student attitudes regarding 'outcomes team-based care' were 80% of the maximum score possible (45.67 out of 54; SD=4.52), and attitudes of 'efficiency of team-based care' were 75% of the maximum score possible (18.00 out of 24; SD=2.75). No significant group differences were detected in either subscale score for career area of interest, location, or program type/level/year. Conclusions: Students generally have positive perceptions of team-based care, and no differences are shown for attitudes in relation to career area of interest, location, or program type/level/year. Future research should explore the combined impact of these factors and other characteristics to direct efforts for IPE to encourage future competency in IDC among emerging RDNs.