Online Education Improves Canadian Dietitians’ Attitudes and Knowledge Regarding Recommending and Ordering Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements

Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
15 August 2014

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the attitudes and knowledge of Fraser Health registered dietitians (RDs) regarding recommending and ordering multivitamin/mineral supplements prior to and following an online education module.
Methods: The educational intervention consisted of narrated slides with electronic resources. After undergoing external review for face and content validity, 6 attitude questions and a 15-item knowledge test were administered pre- and postintervention. The attitude questionnaire utilized a 5-point Likert scale and had a maximum summative score of 30 points. The knowledge test was worth a maximum of 15 points.
Results: Of the eligible RDs (n = 123), 57 (46.3%) completed the study and 55 participants were included in the final analyses. Summative attitude scores were higher on the post-intervention questionnaire compared with the preintervention questionnaire (t = 92.5, P < 0.001). The proportion of correctly answered knowledge questions pre- (78.0% ± 10.0%) to postintervention (mean = 87.4% ± 6.0%) increased significantly (t = 7.16, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Postintervention, RD attitudes and knowledge improved confirming that the education strategy was effective. Future work should focus on optimizing the module and knowledge questions.

Résumé

Objectif. Évaluer les attitudes et connaissances des diététistes de Fraser Health concernant la recommandation et la commande de suppléments multivitaminiques/minéraux avant et après la participation à un module de formation en ligne.
Méthodes. L'intervention éducative était composée de diapositives commentées et de ressources électroniques. Après avoir été soumis à une révision externe dans le but d'en vérifier la validité apparente et la validité de contenu, 6 questions ayant trait aux attitudes et un test de connaissances comportant 15 éléments ont été utilisés avant et après l'intervention. Le questionnaire d'attitudes faisait appel à une échelle de Likert à 5 points et avait un score cumulatif maximal de 30 points. Le test de connaissances comptait pour un maximum de 15 points.
Résultats. Parmi les diététistes admissibles (n = 123), 57 (46,3 %) ont participé à l’étude, et 55 ont été inclus dans les analyses finales. Les scores cumulatifs relatifs aux attitudes étaient plus élevés dans le questionnaire post-intervention que dans le questionnaire préintervention (t = 92,5; P < 0,001). La proportion de réponses exactes aux questions en lien avec les connaissances (78,0 % ± 10,0 % avant l'intervention) a augmenté considérablement (t = 7,16; P < 0,001) après l'intervention (moyenne = 87,4 % ± 6,0 %).
Conclusions. Après l'intervention, les attitudes et connaissances des diététistes ont connu une amélioration, ce qui confirme l'efficacité de la stratégie d’éducation. Les travaux futurs devraient être axés sur l'optimisation du module et des questions relatives aux connaissances.

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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 75Number 03September 2014
Pages: 111 - 117

History

Version of record online: 15 August 2014

Authors

Affiliations

Liz da Silva, MS, RD
Fraser Health Authority, Surrey, BC
Food Nutrition and Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Rebecca Brody, PhD, RD
Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Health Related Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
Laura Byham-Gray, PhD, RD
Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Health Related Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
J. Scott Parrott, PhD
Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Health Related Professions, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ

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