Self-Reported Confidence of Registered Dietitians Who Passed the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Exam

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2024-08, Vol.56 (8), p.S86-S86
• Main Authors: Sterling, Tiffany, Tamsukhin, Sara, Cupp, JoAnna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2024.05.195

Pass rates on the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam have fallen in recent years to a record low. Previous research has not examined all the factors that influence pass rates on the CDR exam. Research in the United States has not focused on competence or motivation related to the CDR exam or reasons why graduates struggle to pass the exam. The objective of this study was to investigate the confidence and characteristics of dietitians who successfully passed the CDR exam to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). A Qualtrics survey link was distributed via email to directors of dietetic programs, posted on dietetics related Facebook groups, and posted on a professional listserv. Participants included 440 RDNs, who passed the CDR exam between 2017 and March of 2023. Data of this descriptive study were collected and analyzed using Qualtrics. Quantitative data included demographics, self-reported confidence prior to taking the exam, number of exam attempts, sources of anxiety, distractions, study materials, and influences on success. Associations between variables were compared using correlations. Participants were mostly non-Hispanic, white females, and over half were between 20 and 29 years old. About half of the participants first took the CDR exam within 2 months of becoming eligible, and 73.4% passed the exam on their first attempt. A significant relationship between education level and passing the CDR on the first attempt was shown from statistical analysis; however, confidence was significantly different between the participants who passed on the first attempt versus those made multiple attempts. Participants, who made multiple attempts, had significantly different confidence between attempts. The participants’ demographics were similar to the CDR's 2020 Needs Satisfaction Survey demographics. Participants' self-reported confidence was different between those who passed the CDR exam on the first attempt versus those who made multiple attempts. None