Supporting Dietitians in Practice: Professional Development Activities of Dietitians of Canada in the Past 30 Years

Abstract

Dietitians of Canada (DC) was established in 1997 from the Canadian Dietetic Association and the provincial associations. This project is part of a larger program of work to document the recent history of Canadian dietetic practice, including the professional development (PD) initiatives DC has provided since its inception. The aims of the present study are to synthesize a timeline of PD events since 1993, understand the context that led to their development, and understand their impact on the profession. 13 key informants were recruited by email, of which 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted, and 8 participants provided written contributions. Interview transcripts and written contributions were analyzed thematically, and a final timeline of events was developed. Six themes were found: 1) the use of technology in PD tools, e.g. online courses, Learning on Demand; 2) conferences and workshops , e.g. national conference, Coast-to-Coast workshops; 3) initiatives that placed DC as a leader in health and nutrition, e.g. Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN); 4)  informal discussion about emerging issues in dietetics, e.g. PEN Current Issues, Practice Blog; 5) DC actively sought member input to inform PD strategy, e.g. members issues forums; and, 6) DC PD events demonstrated their support for research and dietetic education, e.g. relationship with CFDR, public health online course. Key concerns for the future included: declining DC membership and funding, and dietetics not keeping pace with other professions on PD. The successes and failures of initiatives in this time period can inform the development of DC’s PD strategy for the coming decades.