The intersection of systems thinking and structural empowerment in the work of public health dietitians

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics Pub Date : 2024-09-16 DOI:10.1111/jhn.13372

Angela M. Tagtow, Christina Welter, Steven Seweryn, Marie L. Spiker, Jill Lange, Yuka Asada

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Abstract

Background

Public health dietitians navigate complex professional landscapes amid dwindling resources, organisational disruptions and limited advancement opportunities. Cultivating systems thinking and structural empowerment competencies may enable this workforce to address multifaceted public health challenges more effectively. This study explored the extent to which public health dietitians apply systems thinking and perceive access to structural empowerment and the relationship between these constructs.

Methods

A quantitative online survey incorporating the systems thinking scale (STS) and conditions for work effectiveness questionnaire-II (CWEQ-II) was conducted among US public health dietitians who worked in governmental public health. Data were collected from September 2022 to October 2022. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted.

Results

Among 216 respondents, 98% demonstrated moderate-to-high systems thinking competency (mean STS score = 60.3 ± 8.74, range 28–78). Over 88% reported moderate-to-high perceived structural empowerment (mean CWEQ-II score = 18.3 ± 0.96, range 8–29). Higher systems thinking scores were associated with greater decision-making authority (p = 0.01) but not budget oversight. Higher structural empowerment scores correlated with increased job responsibilities and decision-making authority (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation existed between systems thinking and structural empowerment (r = 0.24, p < 0.001). Public health dietitians exhibited substantial systems thinking capabilities and perceived access to organisational power structures.

Conclusions

This study offers baseline understanding of systems thinking and structural empowerment among public health dietitians. The positive interplay between these constructs underscores their potential to drive systems-level change and influence population health outcomes. Integrating systems thinking and structural empowerment into dietetic education and professional development may enhance the workforce's preparedness for navigating complexities.

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公共卫生营养师工作中的系统思维与结构赋权的交叉点

背景公共卫生营养师在资源减少、组织混乱和晋升机会有限的情况下，要应对复杂的职业环境。培养系统思维和结构赋权能力可使这支队伍更有效地应对多方面的公共卫生挑战。本研究探讨了公共卫生营养师在多大程度上运用了系统思维并认为获得了结构性授权，以及这些建构之间的关系。方法对在政府公共卫生机构工作的美国公共卫生营养师进行了一项定量在线调查，其中纳入了系统思维量表（STS）和工作成效条件问卷-II（CWEQ-II）。数据收集时间为 2022 年 9 月至 2022 年 10 月。结果在 216 名受访者中，98% 的人表现出中度到高度的系统思维能力（平均 STS 得分 = 60.3 ± 8.74，范围为 28-78）。超过 88% 的受访者报告了中度到高度的结构授权感知（CWEQ-II 平均得分 = 18.3 ± 0.96，范围为 8-29）。较高的系统思维得分与更大的决策权相关（p = 0.01），但与预算监督无关。结构授权得分越高，工作职责和决策权越大（p = 0.001）。系统思维与结构授权之间存在明显的正相关（r = 0.24，p < 0.001）。公共卫生营养师表现出了很强的系统思维能力，并认为他们能够进入组织权力结构。这些概念之间的积极相互作用强调了它们推动系统层面变革和影响人口健康结果的潜力。将系统思维和结构赋权纳入营养师教育和职业发展中，可增强从业人员驾驭复杂情况的能力。

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来源期刊

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 医学-营养学

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

15.20%

发文量

133

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing papers in applied nutrition and dietetics. Papers are therefore welcomed on: - Clinical nutrition and the practice of therapeutic dietetics - Clinical and professional guidelines - Public health nutrition and nutritional epidemiology - Dietary surveys and dietary assessment methodology - Health promotion and intervention studies and their effectiveness - Obesity, weight control and body composition - Research on psychological determinants of healthy and unhealthy eating behaviour. Focus can for example be on attitudes, brain correlates of food reward processing, social influences, impulsivity, cognitive control, cognitive processes, dieting, psychological treatments. - Appetite, Food intake and nutritional status - Nutrigenomics and molecular nutrition - The journal does not publish animal research The journal is published in an online-only format. No printed issue of this title will be produced but authors will still be able to order offprints of their own articles.