Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

998

Xin Yi Ter

Date

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Clinical Nutrition

Committee Chair

Margaret Ruth Williams-Hooker

Committee Member

Satish K Kedia

Committee Member

Terezie Mosby

Committee Member

Terra Lisa Smith

Abstract

Majority of Registered Dietitians (RD) in the United States are Caucasian females. This study aims to understand the factors associated with low enrollment of minority students in the dietetics major and difficulties faced in the process of becoming an RD. This was a descriptive survey research. Three sets of survey were given to ethnic minorities who were (1) undergraduate dietetic students in Tennessee, (2) undergraduate students not majoring in dietetics at University of Memphis, and (3) dietetic interns in Tennessee. Seventeen, eleven and six participants responded to survey 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Eight respondents (73%) from survey 2 reported never heard of RD. There is a negative perception that dietitians are underappreciated.Dietetic students and interns faced difficulties maintaining good grades and obtaining dietetic-related jobs during undergraduate. Interventions derived from the results focus in increasing marketing and publicity of the dietetics profession and assisting current ethnic minority dietetic students.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Download

Share

COinS