Conceptual Diagrams Help Dietetic Students to Understand and Apply the Nutrition Care Process

Authors

Janica Jamieson (0000-0002-9019-9011), Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Bojana Kovacic, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Philippa Lyons-Wall (0000-0002-0001-1055), Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Therese O'Sullivan (0000-0003-1003-854X), Edith Cowan UniversityFollow

Author Biographical Information

Janica Jamieson, PhD, APD. Lecturer, Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences. Bojana Kovacic, M Nutr&Diet, APD. Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences. Philippa Lyons-Wall, PhD. Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences. Therese O’Sullivan, PhD, APD. Associate Professor, Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the impact of a conceptual diagram assessment task on dietetic student knowledge of and confidence applying the Nutrition Care Process. Methods: Situated within a pragmatic research paradigm, this mixed methods study applied a survey administered before and after a conceptual diagram assessment task using the Nutrition Care Process to explore changes in student knowledge, self-reported confidence, perceptions towards the Nutrition Care Process, and student experience. Nineteen students enrolled in a first-semester unit within a Master level dietetic course completed the assessment task, which visually presented a client case sourced from the student-run clinic within the Nutrition Care Process framework, as an adjunct to traditional teaching. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test determined changes in knowledge and the McNemar test determined changes in self-reported confidence and perspective. Open-ended responses were thematically analyzed. Results:Knowledge scores (maximum of 10) significantly increased following participation in the assessment task (before 5.63 ± 1.67, after 8.36 ± 1.16, P Conclusions: Using conceptual diagrams alongside client cases is a novel and effective education tool to help dietetic students understand and apply the Nutrition Care Process as part of a system of assessment.

DOI

10.26890/gpwe3797

Recommended Citation

Jamieson, Janica; Kovacic, Bojana; Lyons-Wall, Philippa; and O'Sullivan, Therese (2025) "Conceptual Diagrams Help Dietetic Students to Understand and Apply the Nutrition Care Process," Journal of Dietetic Education: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 3.
DOI: 10.26890/gpwe3797
Available at: https://ecommons.udayton.edu/jde/vol3/iss1/3