Self-perceived competence of advanced public health nutritionists in the United States

To describe the development and use of a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate competencies in skill areas, including management and leadership, among advanced public health nutritionists.

Subjects were identified by state and territorial nutrition directors who provided lists of nutrition personnel in official, state, public health agencies. The 519 nutritionists identified were mailed a 137-item self-assessment tool developed for advanced public health nutritionists.

A self-selected sample of 281 state public health nutritionists responded.

Means and standard deviations were calculated for descriptive variables. Factor analysis was conducted to examine associations of items within the assessment tool measured by Spearman correlation. The Cronbach alpha coefficient statistic was used to examine reliability.

Factor analysis produced a 48-item, 3-factor tool comprising items with a correlation of 0.6 or greater; the 3 factors were management, public health nutrition, and communication. Mean scores on the assessment tool indicated that respondents scored competent in 50% of items and adequate in 50% of items.

Ongoing self-assessment by public health nutrition professionals can guide the selection of continuing education and higher education degree programs. Although this self-assessment tool was tested in the public health arena, it can be applied to all nutritionists and dietitians with management responsibilities.