The role of the clinical dietitian: I. Present professional image and recent image changes

This study was designed to assess the image of dietitians in the hospital setting. Fifty persons in each of six health professions responded to a telephone questionnaire. The six health professions were nutrition support dietitians, general clinical dietitians, directors of nursing, hospital administrators, chief dietitians, and physicians. Respondents were selected from relatively large hospitals (greater than 200 beds) that were distributed geographically across the United States. Results indicated that nutrition support dietitians had a more positive view of how their profession was viewed by others than did general clinical dietitians. A larger proportion of nutrition support dietitians than of general clinical dietitians believed that they were viewed as working with specialized patients (14% vs. 9%), as an important part of the hospital team (20% vs. 6%), and as acting as a resource person for the medical staff (30% vs. 13%). Physicians and chief dietitians held the strongest opinions concerning the image of the nutrition support and general clinical dietitians; both held a more positive view of the nutrition support dietitian. A greater number of physicians expressed the view that nutrition support dietitians were more competent and knowledgeable than were general clinical dietitians (24% vs. 9%) and were an important part of the hospital team (36% vs. 15%). A greater percentage of chief dietitians said that nutrition support dietitians, in comparison with general clinical dietitians, were competent and knowledgeable (40% vs. 19%) and professional, well respected, expert, and more specialized (65% vs. 44%). In comparison with 5 years ago, 76% and 69% of nutrition support and general clinical dietitians, respectively, thought that they are now viewed as more professional and as having abilities that are recognized.