Clinical role expectations and performance of dietitians employed in British Columbia hospitals

A mail survey was conducted among a sample of 232 dietitians employed in British Columbia hospitals to investigate their clinical role. An inventory of 40 typical clinical activities was developed, validated and administered to determine role expectations, role performance and role disparity. Questionnaires were returned by 181 (78%) of the dietitians but results are based on the responses of 140 as the others did not meet criteria for inclusion in the study. The majority of respondents were under 33 years of age and employed full time in hospitals with 200 or more beds. Nearly half were generalists and one-third were clinical specialists. Although their role expectations agree with the inventory for 92.5% of the activities, only 62.5% of the activities were actually performed. A moderate or high disparity, indicating a discrepancy between role expectation and role performance, was registered for 60% of the activities. Deterrents cited most frequently as responsible for role disparity were 'opportunity has never occurred' and 'lack of time'. Implications inferred from these results may be of value to dietetic educators and practitioners in British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada.