Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jun;80(3):240-252.
doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12804. Epub 2023 Mar 14.

Shifting the narrative and practice of assessing professionalism in dietetics education: An Australasian qualitative study

Janeane Dart  1 , Charlotte Rees  2   3 , Susan Ash  1 , Louise McCall  1 , Claire Palermo  4
Affiliations

Shifting the narrative and practice of assessing professionalism in dietetics education: An Australasian qualitative study

Janeane Dart et al. Nutr Diet. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to explore current approaches to assessing professionalism in dietetics education in Australia and New Zealand, and asked the questions what is working well and what needs to improve?

Method: We employed a qualitative interpretive approach and conducted interviews with academic and practitioner (workplace-based) educators (total sample n = 78) with a key stake in dietetics education across Australia and New Zealand. Data were analysed using team-based, framework analysis.

Results: Our findings suggest significant shifts in dietetics education in the area of professionalism assessment. Professionalism assessment is embedded in formal curricula of dietetics programs and is occurring in university and placement settings. In particular, advances have been demonstrated in those programs assessing professionalism as part of the programmatic assessment. Progress has been enabled by philosophical and curricula shifts; clearer articulation and shared understandings of professionalism standards; enhanced learner agency and reduced power distance; early identification and intervention of professionalism lapses; and increased confidence and capabilities of educators.

Conclusions: These findings suggest there have been considerable advances in professionalism assessment in recent years with shifts in practice in approaching professionalism through a more interpretivist lens, holistically and more student-centred. Professionalism assessment in dietetics education is a shared responsibility and requires further development and transformation to more fully embed and strengthen curricula approaches across programs. Further work should investigate strategies to build safer learning cultures and capacity for professionalism conversations and in strengthening approaches to remediation.

Keywords: assessment; curriculum; dietetics; education; health professions; professionalism.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

REFERENCES

    1. Dietitians Australia. National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia. Dietitians Australia; 2021.
    1. New Zealand Dietitians Board. Professional Standards and Competencies for Dietitians of New Zealand. New Zealand Dietitians Board; 2017.
    1. Palermo C, Capra S, Ash S, Beck E, Truby H, Jolly B. Professional Competence Standards, Learning Outcomes and Assessment: Designing a Valid Strategy for Nutrition and Dietetics. Office for Learning and Teaching, Australian Government; 2014.
    1. Wilkinson TJ, Wade WB, Knock LD. A blueprint to assess professionalism: results of a systematic review. Acad Med. 2009;81:551-558.
    1. Monrouxe L, Rees C. Healthcare Professionalism: Improving Practice through Reflections on Workplace Dilemmas. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.; 2017:1-259.

LinkOut - more resources