Didactic program in dietetics (DPD) students' experiences with pandemic learning and expectations for their future...

Area of Science:

• Higher Education Research
• Nutrition and Dietetics Education
• Pandemic Impact on Learning

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered university learning environments, shifting students to various remote and hybrid modalities.
• This study applied a systems approach to analyze the educational experiences of dietetics students during the later stages of the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the educational experiences and characteristics of Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) students in Spring 2022.
• To understand student perspectives on learning conditions, satisfaction, and future expectations within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to 215 US-based DPD directors for student dissemination.
• Descriptive statistics were calculated for variables related to system inputs, transformation processes, and outputs.

Main Results:

• 341 DPD students from 51 programs participated; 88.5% were satisfied with their major, and 84.0% intended to pursue RDN credential.
• Concerns about pandemic-related learning conditions affected 46.9% of students, with dissatisfaction noted for asynchronous remote laboratory courses (43.6%).
• Student GPAs remained stable (3.75-4.0 range), but expectations for faculty included effective communication, cultural humility, and inclusivity.

Conclusions:

• DPD students developed new perspectives and expectations for higher education post-COVID-19.
• Future research should investigate the viewpoints of dietetic internship directors, preceptors, and employers regarding graduates from the COVID-19 era.