Research Involvement Among Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Graduates of Rutgers' School of Health Professions Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences

OBJECTIVES: The Rutgers School of Health Professions (SHP), Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences (DCPNS) offers three graduate programs with a strong focus on practice-based research competencies. This study assessed research involvement (RI) among registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) graduates of Rutgers' SHP DCPNS Entry-Level Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition, Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition, and Doctor of Clinical Nutrition programs, and evaluated if there was a relationship between RI scores and years of employment as an RDN. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using the validated practice-based dietitian research involvement survey (PBDRIS) tool and included questions about sociodemographic and professional characteristics. PBDRIS total possible score ranged from 16 to 80 and a higher total score indicated a higher RI of the participant. Data were collected via an online survey and the sample included 94 alumni from the past 25 years (usable response rate of 32.5%). Descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation tests were conducted. RESULTS: Of the 94 study participants, 90.9% (n = 80) were female, 89.8% (n = 79), white or Caucasian, and the median age was 44.5 years. The majority of participants reported working in clinical practice (n = 69, 73.4%) and their median years of employment as an RDN was 22.0 years. The median PBDRIS total score was 54.0 (out of 80.0). Level 1, consisting of applying evidence-based practice (EBP), was the highest median sub-score (19.0 out of 20.0). The lowest median sub-score was level 4 (11.0 out of 20.0), involving activities about leadership in research. The most and least frequently reported activities were “applying EBP” (n = 78, 83.0%), and “applying for grant funding” (n = 59, 62.8%), respectively. There was a statistically significant medium, positive correlation between years of employment as an RDN and PBDRIS total scores (r = 0.396, n = 85, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RDN alumni from the Rutgers SHP DCPNS had RI scores which likely reflect the unique research-based focus of the program curricula. With more years of experience as an RDN, RI scores increased. FUNDING SOURCES: Rutgers School of Health Professions, Department of Clinical and Preventive Nutrition Sciences.