Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future profession

Introduction: Although it is believed that dietitians will use their opinions about food in their professional practice, few studies evaluated conceptions about food and health among dietitians, and this evaluation could be useful for understanding university education and thinking about possible pr...

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Main Authors: Priscila Koritar, Maria Clara de Moraes Prata Gaspar, Cristina Larrea-Killinger, Marle dos Santos Alvarenga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro 2024-09-01
Series:Demetra
Online Access:https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/demetra/article/view/73079
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author Priscila Koritar
Maria Clara de Moraes Prata Gaspar
Cristina Larrea-Killinger
Marle dos Santos Alvarenga
author_facet Priscila Koritar
Maria Clara de Moraes Prata Gaspar
Cristina Larrea-Killinger
Marle dos Santos Alvarenga
author_sort Priscila Koritar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Although it is believed that dietitians will use their opinions about food in their professional practice, few studies evaluated conceptions about food and health among dietitians, and this evaluation could be useful for understanding university education and thinking about possible professional implications. Methods: The study aimed to understand the role of food and what it means to be a dietitian from the perspective of Brazilian dietetics students (495 from 34 institutions in the state of São Paulo) through the questions, "What do you consider the main role of food?" and "For me, being a dietitian means...” The responses were analyzed with the support of AtlasTi software and codified into analytical categories based on content analysis.  Results: Of the total, 93% were female and 20% were enrolled in public institutions. Two main categories were defined for food: biological and psycho-sociocultural aspects, and two for nutritionists: health promoter and integral health promoter; 69% indicated the function of food as only biological and 61,3% see the dietitian to be only a health promoter, considering only physiological aspects. Students from public institutions responded more for psycho-sociocultural aspects and integral health promotion (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Most participants present opinions about food in their professional practice focusing mainly on biological and physical health aspects. The possible impact of these opinions on professional practice should be discussed and addressed so that undergraduation can expand critical training and better professional practice.
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issn 2238-913X
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publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
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spelling doaj-art-affc306bdcdd405d9d67e5bba585c0122025-02-02T20:11:51ZengUniversidade do Estado do Rio de JaneiroDemetra2238-913X2024-09-0119e73079e7307910.12957/demetra.2024.7307961887Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future professionPriscila Koritar0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1123-0357Maria Clara de Moraes Prata Gaspar1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1517-4981Cristina Larrea-Killinger2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2782-6748Marle dos Santos Alvarenga3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6922-2670Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição. São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Universitat de Barcelona, Departamento de Antropologia Social. Barcelona, Spain.Universitat de Barcelona, Facultad de Geografia e Historia, Antropología Social. Barcelona, Spain.Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição Humana Aplicada. São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Introduction: Although it is believed that dietitians will use their opinions about food in their professional practice, few studies evaluated conceptions about food and health among dietitians, and this evaluation could be useful for understanding university education and thinking about possible professional implications. Methods: The study aimed to understand the role of food and what it means to be a dietitian from the perspective of Brazilian dietetics students (495 from 34 institutions in the state of São Paulo) through the questions, "What do you consider the main role of food?" and "For me, being a dietitian means...” The responses were analyzed with the support of AtlasTi software and codified into analytical categories based on content analysis.  Results: Of the total, 93% were female and 20% were enrolled in public institutions. Two main categories were defined for food: biological and psycho-sociocultural aspects, and two for nutritionists: health promoter and integral health promoter; 69% indicated the function of food as only biological and 61,3% see the dietitian to be only a health promoter, considering only physiological aspects. Students from public institutions responded more for psycho-sociocultural aspects and integral health promotion (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Most participants present opinions about food in their professional practice focusing mainly on biological and physical health aspects. The possible impact of these opinions on professional practice should be discussed and addressed so that undergraduation can expand critical training and better professional practice.https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/demetra/article/view/73079
spellingShingle Priscila Koritar
Maria Clara de Moraes Prata Gaspar
Cristina Larrea-Killinger
Marle dos Santos Alvarenga
Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future profession
Demetra
title Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future profession
title_full Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future profession
title_fullStr Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future profession
title_full_unstemmed Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future profession
title_short Dietetics students' opinion on food and their future profession
title_sort dietetics students opinion on food and their future profession
url https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/demetra/article/view/73079
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AT cristinalarreakillinger dieteticsstudentsopiniononfoodandtheirfutureprofession
AT marledossantosalvarenga dieteticsstudentsopiniononfoodandtheirfutureprofession