Pre‐registration dietetic students’ attitudes to learning communication skills

Abstract

These findings indicate that efforts are required to maintain positive attitudes to learning communication skills. Further longitudinal studies are recommended in this respect.

Assessing communication skills in dietetic consultations: the development of the reliable and valid DIET‐COMMS tool

“…This was particularly a problem with female students (Laidlaw, ) but, in a study investigating undergraduate dietetic student attitudes towards communication skills training (Power & Lennie, ), the sex of the student was not found to have an effect. Power & Lennie () demonstrated that attitudes towards communication skills became more negative as students progressed through their training and it is interesting to observe that response rates in the study fell as students progressed through the course. Potential barriers to taking part in communication skills training, particularly in a female dominated profession such as dietetics, clearly warrant further investigation.…”

“…Medical students with social anxiety were found to dislike being observed by others and this correlated with negative attitudes towards communication skills teaching (Laidlaw, ). This was particularly a problem with female students (Laidlaw, ) but, in a study investigating undergraduate dietetic student attitudes towards communication skills training (Power & Lennie, ), the sex of the student was not found to have an effect. Power & Lennie () demonstrated that attitudes towards communication skills became more negative as students progressed through their training and it is interesting to observe that response rates in the study fell as students progressed through the course.…”

Dietetics and Nutrition Students Response to Grocery Store Tour Training Program

“…This indicates that students need more experience with communication skills prior to entering the workforce. Studies of dietetics students in the UK, have shown that upper level dietetics students (fourth year) tend to have poorer attitudes about learning communication skills (Power & Lennie, 2012). A training program where students must use communication skills in a practical setting may be of benefit.…”

Evaluation of Nutrition and Dietetic programs in Turkey as perceived by stakeholders

“…Overall, expectations of the majority of stakeholders underline the need for ‘learning by doing’, and workplace learning as well as teamwork and collaboration in education . This view is supported by relevant studies of registered dietitians in the USA and preregistration dietetic students in the UK demonstrating that in nutrition and dietetic programs, the most important component is internship because it contributes fundamentally to knowledge, skill development, competence and the improvement of qualifications, whereas didactic programs contributed mostly to acquiring knowledge . In the position papers of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and European Dietetics Association, the importance of practice‐based learning was also emphasised …”

“…24,25 This view is supported by relevant studies of registered dietitians in the USA and preregistration dietetic students in the UK demonstrating that in nutrition and dietetic programs, the most important component is internship because it contributes fundamentally to knowledge, skill development, competence and the improvement of qualifications, whereas didactic programs contributed mostly to acquiring knowledge. [26][27][28] In the position papers of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and European Dietetics Association, the importance of practice-based learning was also emphasised. 13,29,30 Similarly, as regards the extra field courses, the necessity of the knowledge and skills acquired in these courses (communication skills, problem-solving, decision-making, work discipline and teamwork) was emphasised to a greater extent by the cooks, waiters, employers, patients and counselees with whom the dietitians worked.…”