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Expanding Technology: Taking a Nutrition Course with a Handheld Device
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26
POSTER SESSION: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS/NUTRITION ASSESSMENT/MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY Title: THE IMPACT OF GENDER AND OTHER FACTORS ON COMPENSATION TO REGISTERED DIETITIANS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CAREER PLANNING AND SALARY AGREEMENTS Author(s): P. L. Pollard,1 M. Taylor,2 N. Daher3; 1Department of Management, La Sierra University, School of Business, Riverside, CA, 2Dietetics, Loma Linda University, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda, CA, 3Department of Research and Statistics, Loma Linda University, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda, CA Learning Outcome: Describe factors that best explain variability in compensation to male and female RDs. Text: Healthcare remains burdened with gender inequity in compensation. While this inequity is visible among physicians, it is also discernible within allied health professions. Wage discrimination may exist among Registered Dietitians (RD) similar to registered nurses, but the assumption is untested. Using data from ADA’s 2002 and 2005 comprehensive study of RD compensation, we examined the impact of gender and eleven factors on compensation. We analyzed data on fulltime RDs using K-W ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression. In 2002 and 2005 the median compensation for female RDs employed in the position for at least one year was $45,500.00 and $49,850.00, respectively. In 2005 women earned 92% of the compensation paid to men, compared to 90% in 2002. In 2002, variability in compensation to females was explained by size of budget, years of experience, work setting, and educational level. Variability for males was explained by size of budget, years of experience, educational level and employer status. For 2005, wages of women and men varied by years of experience and size of budget that is managed. Conclusions suggest that work organizations should evaluate their pay plans to monitor pay equity and pay policies should be examined often to guarantee equity. Factors that affect compensation to males and females include size of budget, years of experience, employer status, work setting, and educational level. These findings are useful for educators to advise their students, for researchers seeking to understand compensation equity, for RD practitioners as they negotiate compensation, and for career advisors and supervisors.
Title: INTERN BLOG: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO MARKET AND INFORM Author(s): L. England,1 P. Fatzinger-McShane,1 C. Scarpero,2 D. Stapley2; 1Dietetic Internship, Dept of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2Food and Nutrition Information Center, USDA National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD Learning Outcome: To illustrate how a blog in a dietetic intern website can both market and inform. Text: As the public increasingly relies on the Internet as its source of information from “experts,” dietitians must position themselves as the nutrition authority in all media on the Internet. One medium, known as a blog, is an online journal of opinions, experiences and events. A blog may include written text, short articles, links to other websites, photographs, images and/or imbedded videos. Placing a blog within a dietetic intern’s professional website allows the intern to add text or visual description of skills she/he has developed to offer an employer, and informs an internship director more clearly what is transpiring in the internship. Prior to development of a blog some basic understanding of how the Internet can and does function as a communication tool is critical as is an understanding of the writing style that is most effective in communication over the Internet. Avoidance of negative statements and/or silly, unprofessional pictures is recommended as each can and will reduce the effectiveness of the blog as a professional marketing tool. An intern in one program utilized a blog within her professional electronic portfolio to showcase her technical writing skills and to a lesser extent her graphic art capabilities in a web-based medium. This blog provided this dietetic intern, a future practicing dietitian, with an opportunity to project a positive image as the nutrition authority and advocate to a global public visiting her website. Funding Disclosure: None
Funding Disclosure: None
Title: COMMUNICATING TO GENERATION Y: DIETETIC INTERNS DISSECT YOU TUBE VIDEOS TO DEFINE WHAT IS NECESSARY TO USE IT AS A COMMUNICATION MEDIUM Author(s): J. Carlson, E. Heeschen, P. Fatzinger-McShane; Dietetic Internship, Dept of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD Learning Outcome: To illustrate the potential of YouTube webbased videos as an effective nutrition communication medium. Text: Generation Y increasingly utilizes the Internet as its source of information for “experts”. To reach this population, dietitians must understand and be comfortable with the media this age group views. “YouTube” remains the most popular site for users to upload, share and view videos. Dietetic interns extensively studied YouTube videos during one nutrition communication supervised practice rotation. Based upon extensive research a report describing YouTube use, appeal, effective/non-effective formats, and approaches to consider when using this media to provide health information was generated. Fifty percent of YouTube users are under 20 years of age, most being between 12 and 17. Website review for health and nutrition-related videos found a range from personal testimonials, to news clips and to educational messages from non-profit agencies. Common characteristics in videos with the highest number of views included those with humor, videos less than three minutes in length, and those with short simple messages. Competing videos included music videos by popular artists or movie stars. Organizations can link YouTube videos through their website, market products through professional events and publications, and can create a YouTube profile page with links to other credible resources. Effective use of YouTube can be utilized to position the registered dietitian as the nutrition expert to this new generation. YouTube remains a highly effective avenue for nutrition communication if done correctly and marketed effectively. Funding Disclosure: None
Title: EXPANDING TECHNOLOGY: TAKING A NUTRITION COURSE WITH A HANDHELD DEVICE Author(s): C. Hamilton,1 J. Lightcap,2 P. Rickards,3 G. Bauer4; 1 Health, Nutrition, & Exercise Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2Professional and Continuing Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 3IT-Media Services, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 4Center for Teaching Effectiveness, University of Delaware, Newark, DE Learning Outcome: To identify and describe the use of handheld devices such as iPods in an introductory college nutrition course. Text: The course entitled “Nutrition Concepts” offered at a midAtlantic university is a non-laboratory science general education course taught to approximately 1,600 students per calendar year. Two sections of the course each semester are taught in a completely distance format, using WebCT as the learning management system, within which all course materials, including video lectures, are available. The ability to download lectures to portable devices such as iPods was introduced in Fall 2007. A pilot study was undertaken to assess students’ attitudes toward the technology used in this course, and to identify the number of students using portable devices for delivery of course content. Students enrolled in the online sections in the Fall 2007 and Winter 2008 semesters were surveyed using a questionnaire available through WebCT. A total of 210 students were enrolled during this time, and 90 students (43%) completed the survey. A total of 63 (70%) of students reported that they owned some type of portable device. Of these 63 students, 27 had a video-capable device, while 33 had an audio-capable device. Nine respondents (10%) used a hand-held device to watch/listen to the lectures. Respondents reported watching/listening to lectures in a variety of places, including in cars, on trains, etc. A total of 78% of respondents reported that WebCT was very easy to use, and 93% rated their educational experience with the course technology as very good or good. Making course content available on portable devices is a promising way to reach students with the technology they currently use. Funding Disclosure: None
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION / A-17
POSTER SESSION: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS/NUTRITION ASSESSMENT/MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY Title: THE IMPACT OF GENDER AND OTHER FACTORS ON COMPENSATION TO REGISTERED DIETITIANS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CAREER PLANNING AND SALARY AGREEMENTS Author(s): P. L. Pollard,1 M. Taylor,2 N. Daher3; 1Department of Management, La Sierra University, School of Business, Riverside, CA, 2Dietetics, Loma Linda University, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda, CA, 3Department of Research and Statistics, Loma Linda University, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda, CA Learning Outcome: Describe factors that best explain variability in compensation to male and female RDs. Text: Healthcare remains burdened with gender inequity in compensation. While this inequity is visible among physicians, it is also discernible within allied health professions. Wage discrimination may exist among Registered Dietitians (RD) similar to registered nurses, but the assumption is untested. Using data from ADA’s 2002 and 2005 comprehensive study of RD compensation, we examined the impact of gender and eleven factors on compensation. We analyzed data on fulltime RDs using K-W ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression. In 2002 and 2005 the median compensation for female RDs employed in the position for at least one year was $45,500.00 and $49,850.00, respectively. In 2005 women earned 92% of the compensation paid to men, compared to 90% in 2002. In 2002, variability in compensation to females was explained by size of budget, years of experience, work setting, and educational level. Variability for males was explained by size of budget, years of experience, educational level and employer status. For 2005, wages of women and men varied by years of experience and size of budget that is managed. Conclusions suggest that work organizations should evaluate their pay plans to monitor pay equity and pay policies should be examined often to guarantee equity. Factors that affect compensation to males and females include size of budget, years of experience, employer status, work setting, and educational level. These findings are useful for educators to advise their students, for researchers seeking to understand compensation equity, for RD practitioners as they negotiate compensation, and for career advisors and supervisors.
Title: INTERN BLOG: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO MARKET AND INFORM Author(s): L. England,1 P. Fatzinger-McShane,1 C. Scarpero,2 D. Stapley2; 1Dietetic Internship, Dept of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2Food and Nutrition Information Center, USDA National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD Learning Outcome: To illustrate how a blog in a dietetic intern website can both market and inform. Text: As the public increasingly relies on the Internet as its source of information from “experts,” dietitians must position themselves as the nutrition authority in all media on the Internet. One medium, known as a blog, is an online journal of opinions, experiences and events. A blog may include written text, short articles, links to other websites, photographs, images and/or imbedded videos. Placing a blog within a dietetic intern’s professional website allows the intern to add text or visual description of skills she/he has developed to offer an employer, and informs an internship director more clearly what is transpiring in the internship. Prior to development of a blog some basic understanding of how the Internet can and does function as a communication tool is critical as is an understanding of the writing style that is most effective in communication over the Internet. Avoidance of negative statements and/or silly, unprofessional pictures is recommended as each can and will reduce the effectiveness of the blog as a professional marketing tool. An intern in one program utilized a blog within her professional electronic portfolio to showcase her technical writing skills and to a lesser extent her graphic art capabilities in a web-based medium. This blog provided this dietetic intern, a future practicing dietitian, with an opportunity to project a positive image as the nutrition authority and advocate to a global public visiting her website. Funding Disclosure: None
Funding Disclosure: None
Title: COMMUNICATING TO GENERATION Y: DIETETIC INTERNS DISSECT YOU TUBE VIDEOS TO DEFINE WHAT IS NECESSARY TO USE IT AS A COMMUNICATION MEDIUM Author(s): J. Carlson, E. Heeschen, P. Fatzinger-McShane; Dietetic Internship, Dept of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD Learning Outcome: To illustrate the potential of YouTube webbased videos as an effective nutrition communication medium. Text: Generation Y increasingly utilizes the Internet as its source of information for “experts”. To reach this population, dietitians must understand and be comfortable with the media this age group views. “YouTube” remains the most popular site for users to upload, share and view videos. Dietetic interns extensively studied YouTube videos during one nutrition communication supervised practice rotation. Based upon extensive research a report describing YouTube use, appeal, effective/non-effective formats, and approaches to consider when using this media to provide health information was generated. Fifty percent of YouTube users are under 20 years of age, most being between 12 and 17. Website review for health and nutrition-related videos found a range from personal testimonials, to news clips and to educational messages from non-profit agencies. Common characteristics in videos with the highest number of views included those with humor, videos less than three minutes in length, and those with short simple messages. Competing videos included music videos by popular artists or movie stars. Organizations can link YouTube videos through their website, market products through professional events and publications, and can create a YouTube profile page with links to other credible resources. Effective use of YouTube can be utilized to position the registered dietitian as the nutrition expert to this new generation. YouTube remains a highly effective avenue for nutrition communication if done correctly and marketed effectively. Funding Disclosure: None
Title: EXPANDING TECHNOLOGY: TAKING A NUTRITION COURSE WITH A HANDHELD DEVICE Author(s): C. Hamilton,1 J. Lightcap,2 P. Rickards,3 G. Bauer4; 1 Health, Nutrition, & Exercise Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 2Professional and Continuing Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 3IT-Media Services, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 4Center for Teaching Effectiveness, University of Delaware, Newark, DE Learning Outcome: To identify and describe the use of handheld devices such as iPods in an introductory college nutrition course. Text: The course entitled “Nutrition Concepts” offered at a midAtlantic university is a non-laboratory science general education course taught to approximately 1,600 students per calendar year. Two sections of the course each semester are taught in a completely distance format, using WebCT as the learning management system, within which all course materials, including video lectures, are available. The ability to download lectures to portable devices such as iPods was introduced in Fall 2007. A pilot study was undertaken to assess students’ attitudes toward the technology used in this course, and to identify the number of students using portable devices for delivery of course content. Students enrolled in the online sections in the Fall 2007 and Winter 2008 semesters were surveyed using a questionnaire available through WebCT. A total of 210 students were enrolled during this time, and 90 students (43%) completed the survey. A total of 63 (70%) of students reported that they owned some type of portable device. Of these 63 students, 27 had a video-capable device, while 33 had an audio-capable device. Nine respondents (10%) used a hand-held device to watch/listen to the lectures. Respondents reported watching/listening to lectures in a variety of places, including in cars, on trains, etc. A total of 78% of respondents reported that WebCT was very easy to use, and 93% rated their educational experience with the course technology as very good or good. Making course content available on portable devices is a promising way to reach students with the technology they currently use. Funding Disclosure: None
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION / A-17