What are the barriers affecting accessibility of dietetic internships?

<p>Objective: To explore the disparity between number of students completing degrees in dietetics, students matched to internships, and current and projected field needs. Methods: An electronic survey covering a variety of factors potentially affecting internship accessibility was distributed to 251 internship program directors, 200 preceptors, and accreditation board, staff, and review members. Results: Of 193 total respondents, 60% agreed that accreditation competencies prepared dietetic interns well and that internship costs may hinder diversity among interns. Seventy-two percent of program directors (n=115) reported difficulties in preceptor recruitment and 56% reported difficulties in preceptor training/orientation. Conclusion: The overarching goal of ACEND®, dietetic internship programs, and alternative certification pathways should be finding solutions that will reduce the bottleneck of qualified dietetics students unable to begin an internship upon graduating and create structures growing the accrediting ability of the field, allowing program development and expansion to keep pace with the growing demand of credentialed employees.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Moelter, Samantha

Contributors dc:contributor

• John Carbone
• Alice Jo Rainville
• Lydia Kret

• Dietetic Internship
• Dietetics
• Nutrition
• Medicine and Health Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/844

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-2230