Work engagement and associated factors among Japanese registered dietitians and dietitians: a cross-sectional study

Healthcare services provided by registered dietitians and dietitians have been changing because of evolving lifestyles and population dynamics, leading to subsequent changes in the occupational status and experiences of these professionals. However, few studies have examined occupational stress among registered dietitians and dietitians. This study involved a cross-sectional survey to investigate the status and associated factors of work engagement among registered dietitians and dietitians, whose professions differ based on licensing processes and scope of work. A total of 3,593 questionnaires were distributed, 1,890 responses were received, and 1,654 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Work engagement was measured using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between work engagement and each factor. The work engagement scores of dietitians were significantly lower than those of registered dietitians. Further, work engagement was associated with age, workplace, coworker support, and effort-reward ratio for both registered dietitians and dietitians. However, exercise habit was a significant factor associated with work engagement only among dietitians. Work engagement among registered dietitians was comparable to that of typical Japanese workers, whereas it was lower among dietitians. The findings highlight the importance of considering associated factors to improve work engagement further, especially among dietitians.