Diabetes Training for Dietitians: Needs Assessment, Program Description, and Effects on Knowledge and Problem Solving

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2000-02, Vol.100 (2), p.225-228
• Main Authors: LORENZ, RODNEY A, GREGORY, REBECCA PRATT, DAVIS, DIANNE L, SCHLUNDT, DAVID G, WERMAGER, JOHN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - diet therapy; Diet therapy; Dietetic technicians; Dietetics - education; Dietitians; Education, Continuing; Endocrine glands; Health aspects; Humans; Knowledge; Medical sciences; Needs Assessment; Nutrition education; Problem Solving; Program Evaluation; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Study and teaching; Training; United States
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8223(00)00068-7

Recent changes in management and medical nutrition therapy for diabetes mellitus. have produced a need to retrain many practicing dietitians. To meet this need, a multidisciplinary group experienced in medical nutrition therapy and educational methods used a formal needs-assessment process to design a new training program. Sugar is Not a Poison (SNAP): The Dietitian's New Role in Diabetes Management is a 2 1/2-day program that uses written text, didactic presentation, and exercises that simulate patient encounters to accomplish 12 learning objectives. Program evaluations show high levels of participant satisfaction. Mean (±standard deviation) scores on pre- and posttests of knowledge and problem solving were 69±13% and 86±9%, respectively ( P