Perceptions of the metaparadigm of clinical dietetics: Conceptual delineation of phenomena relevant to the discipline

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to validate the proposed Metaparadigm of Clinical Dietetics. The proposed Metaparadigm of Clinical Dietetics is the most abstract level of the profession's body of knowledge and is a statement of seven domains of concern. The seven domains are Reference Person, Human Condition, Practitioner Actions/Attitudes, Practitioner Environment, Client Actions/Attitudes, Client Environment and Nutraceuticals and are characterized by ninety-four knowledge topics. A further purpose was to determine comparative relevance of these ninety-four knowledge topics to other health professionals and nutritional scientists. A descriptive-correlational-factor-analytical design was used for this study. An expert panel of clinical dietetic practitioners and an extensive literature review were used to develop the mailed survey instrument. A random sample of five hundred clinical dietitians was selected from members of thirteen clinical Dietetic Practice Groups of The American Dietetic Association. One hundred thirty-six surveys were returned for a response rate of twenty-seven percent.