Dietitian Views on Continuing Education Activities – A Canadian Survey

Abstract

Purpose: Understanding dietitian participation and perceptions of continuing education (CE) can guide CE development, leading to faster implementation of evidence-based practices at the bedside. This survey explored CE activities that Canadian dietitians value to facilitate knowledge acquisition (KA) and practice change. Methods: A convenience sample of Canadian dietitians providing direct patient care was invited to complete a 25-question online cross-sectional survey. Responses were analyzed in aggregate with descriptive statistics. Results: Dietitians (428/4667, 9.2%) from diverse care settings across Canada responded to the survey. Participation was most frequently “less often than ideal” for in-person CE (74.7%) and “as often as ideal” for virtual (50.7%). Prerecorded videos (91%) and live virtual presentations (87%) were the most frequent CE in which registered dietitians (RDs) had participated in at least once in the preceding 12 months. In-person sessions were perceived as most effective for KA (hands-on) and to enable practice change (hands-on or didactic). Reported CE barriers included cost (68% of respondents), scheduling (60%), and location (51%). Conclusion: Findings suggest opportunities to improve CE participation. Canadian dietitians value in-person interaction but encounter barriers to participation. Despite being perceived as most effective, hands-on sessions were among the least frequently attended modes of CE, while virtual CE had the highest rates of participation.