Diversity and Equity in Dietetics and Undergraduate Nutrition Education in Manitoba

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
15 November 2018

Abstract

Purpose: The objectives of this study were (i) to describe ethnicity, tuition funding sources, and living arrangements during degree among Registered Dietitian (RD) and non-RD alumni of the University of Manitoba’s undergraduate nutrition program and (ii) to describe barriers to obtaining an internship among those who did not become an RD.
Methods: A 31-item, self-administered, online questionnaire was distributed to nutrition graduates. Binary logistic regression was used to test for predictors of RD status (vs. non-RD).
Results: Of the 195 participants who completed the survey (37% response rate), 68% identified as an RD and 31% did not. White students had 3.8 times higher odds of being an RD (P < 0.001) compared with students of an ethnic minority. Those who had received a student loan (P = 0.033) or lived with their parents during their degree (P = 0.004) also had significantly lower odds of being an RD. The most common barrier for not completing the dietetic internship by non-RDs was that the application process was too stressful.
Conclusions: Results from this study highlight the need for the dietetics field to address systemic barriers for students of ethnic minorities and low socioeconomic backgrounds, including barriers during the degree program and in the internship selection process.

Résumé

Objectif. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient (i) de décrire l’origine ethnique, les sources de financement des droits de scolarité et les conditions de logement durant les études chez d’anciens étudiants diététistes (RD) et non-diététistes (non-RD) issus du programme de nutrition de premier cycle de l’Université du Manitoba et (ii) de décrire les obstacles à l’obtention d’un internat chez ceux qui ne sont pas devenus diététistes.
Méthodes. Un questionnaire en ligne auto-administré de 31 questions a été distribué aux diplômés en nutrition. Une régression logistique binaire a été utilisée afin de tester les variables explicatives du statut de RD (vs non-RD).
Résultats. Parmi les 195 répondants au questionnaire (taux de réponse de 37 %), 68 % se sont identifiés comme étant RD et 31 % comme non-RD. Les étudiants de race blanche avaient 3,8 fois plus de chance d’être RD (P < 0,001) comparativement à ceux issus d’une minorité ethnique. Ceux qui avaient reçu un prêt étudiant (P = 0,033) ou qui avaient vécu avec leurs parents pendant leurs études (P = 0,004) avaient également moins de chances d’être RD. L’obstacle le plus commun à la réalisation d’un internat en diététique pour les non-RD était le stress engendré par le processus de candidature.
Conclusions. Les résultats de cette étude illustrent que le domaine de la diététique doit s’attaquer aux obstacles systémiques rencontrés par les étudiants issus d’une minorité ethnique ou d’un milieu socio-économique défavorisé, y compris les obstacles rencontrés pendant le programme d’études et le processus de sélection pour l’internat.

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Financial support: Funding for this project was provided by start-up funds to NR from the Department of Community Health Sciences.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 80Number 1March 2019
Pages: 44 - 46

History

Version of record online: 15 November 2018

Authors

Affiliations

Natalie D. Riediger PhD
Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Ongomiizwin Research, Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Oribim Kingson BSc
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Adriana Mudryj PhD
Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Ongomiizwin Research, Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Kayla L. Farquhar RD
Diabetes Integration Project, Nanaandawewigamig, First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Kerry A. Spence RD, MSc
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Kathy Vagianos RD, MSc
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Miyoung Suh RD, PhD
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB

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Cited by

1. Food Security Status in Relation to Co-operative Enrolment Among University of Waterloo Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
2. Employment Outcomes among Registered Dietitians following Graduation in Manitoba

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