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Continued need for increased emphasis on aging in dietetics education
Lauren Q Rhee1, Nancy S Wellman, Victoria H Castellanos
1Bionutrition Core, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
|April 1, 2004
Summary
Dietetics programs offer limited aging content, with many directors unsatisfied. Integrating aging topics into current courses is preferred, but barriers like full curricula and faculty expertise exist.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutrition Science
- Higher Education
Background:
- The aging population is growing, increasing the need for dietetics professionals knowledgeable in geriatric nutrition.
- Current dietetics curricula may not adequately prepare students to address the nutritional needs of older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the extent of aging content within undergraduate and graduate dietetics programs.
- To identify program directors' satisfaction levels and perceived barriers regarding aging curriculum.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of online dietetics program websites (203 undergraduate, 88 graduate).
- Follow-up questionnaire distributed to program directors.
- Comparison of current findings with historical data from 1989.
Main Results:
- A small percentage of courses (22% undergraduate, 44% graduate) specifically focused on aging.
- Life cycle and community nutrition courses contained the most aging-related material.
- Over 50% of program directors were dissatisfied with the aging content, citing "curriculum already full" and "lack of faculty expertise" as primary barriers.
Conclusions:
- Dietetics curricula require enhancement in aging content to meet the needs of a growing older adult population.
- Integrating aging nutrition into existing courses is a feasible strategy, though faculty development and curriculum adjustments are necessary.
- Addressing demographic shifts necessitates a stronger focus on geriatric nutrition within dietetics education.