Design considerations for multidisciplinary continuing nutrition education programs

A multidisciplinary group of nutritional care providers was surveyed to assess degree of agreement on the relative importance of various areas of nutrition knowledge. A 35-item nutrition content area survey was mailed to a stratified, random sample (n = 400) of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) membership representing dietitians, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians. Through the use of modified Delphi survey, respondents rated each content area as 'essential,' 'useful,' or 'nonessential' for inclusion in a proposed test to assess nutrition knowledge. Respondents from all disciplines agreed that they should be knowledgeable in 22 of the 35 content areas. Chi square tests were used to assess significant response differences among disciplines. Systematic differences were primarily between dietitians and pharmacists. The study results provide direction to multidisciplinary continuing nutrition education program planners regarding appropriate content for combined discipline programs as well as for those more discipline-specific.