The publication of this Fall issue coincides with “Back to School” season in Canada. A new cohort of over 500 dietetic students at 16 institutions across the country will be embarking on their journey to become Registered Dietitians [
1,
2]. At times this road will be exhilarating but at others challenging. Regardless, this experience of university-level education, practical training, and professional competency development will shape their future career path.
Research in dietetic education aims to inform our understanding of and approaches to teaching and learning [
3]. These evaluations of educational ecosystems provide evidence to guide decision-making to improve the quality of dietetic education and ensure readiness for practice. While dietetic education research includes a broad range of topics and methodological approaches, it frequently explores the impact of various aspects of dietetic education on the individual student. This issue includes two such studies.
First,
Rosa and Giroux report the results of a mixed-methods study observing a positive impact of a series of four simulations on the self-confidence and perceived development of professional competencies of dietetic students enrolled in a nutrition assessment course. Second,
Van et al. share the results of a survey exploring the perceptions of dietetic students on the transition from in-person to online dietetic training caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the identified challenges, approximately half of the respondents favoured continuing online training post-pandemic.
Exploring dietitians’ perceptions sheds light on how we learn and know and the many social, cultural and emotional factors that influence this process. Consequently, the importance of this type of research extends beyond initial dietetic education. Also in this issue,
Hickens et al. report the findings of a qualitative study on the knowledge, beliefs, and values of Canadian dietitians relating to gender and sexual orientation diversity within the profession. They identify critical issues experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ groups and call for structural reforms to ensure access to equitable and inclusive care for all.
As one of only a few dietetic journals, the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research is committed to continuing to publish research like the aforementioned studies as a means of identifying future needs for dietetic education and professional development, and to support a thriving profession.