SELF-PERCEIVED COMPETENCE OF CANADIAN PUBLIC-HEALTH NUTRITIONISTS

This study investigated the self-perceived competence of public health nutritionists employed in provincial and municipal/regional departments of health in Canada. One hundred and fifty-three (78%) of all eligible Canadian public health nutritionists responded to a mailed questionnaire. Nutritionists were asked to rate their level of competence on 10 competency scales and to indicate sources of their knowledge and skill development. Respondents gave the highest ratings to their interpersonal and communication skills and the lowest ratings to their research and information management abilities. T-tests showed that nutritionists who had completed a postgraduate degree felt significantly more competent in their managerial and administrative (p<.05), organizational (p<.01), program planning/evaluation (p<.001), research (p<.001), and supervisory/leadership/facilitating skills (p<.05) than those with only a bachelor's degree. One-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of geographical location for eight competency scales. The results of this study identify continuing education needs and have implications for the graduate education of public health nutritionists.