Development of a perceived nutrition care competencies scale for Japanese dietetic students: A cross-sectional survey

Sayaka Yamamoto; Yuko S Yoshimoto; Kengo Yoshii; Ryo Shimizu; Ritsuko Ohnishi; Hiroko Takahashi; Takayo Kawakami

doi:10.1111/jhn.13409

Development of a perceived nutrition care competencies scale for Japanese dietetic students: A cross-sectional survey

J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Feb;38(1):e13409. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13409.

Authors

Sayaka Yamamoto^{1

2}, Yuko S Yoshimoto³, Kengo Yoshii⁴, Ryo Shimizu⁵, Ritsuko Ohnishi⁶, Hiroko Takahashi⁷, Takayo Kawakami¹

Affiliations

¹ Graduate School of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University, Soja, Japan.
² The Department of Health and Nutrition, The Faculty of Health Sciences, Hiroshima Shudo University, Hiroshima, Japan.
³ Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, Japan.
⁴ Department of Mathematics and Statistics in Medical Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
⁵ Department of Nutrition, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Aomori, Japan.
⁶ Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan.
⁷ Department of Health and Dietetics, Teikyo Heisei University, Ichihara, Japan.

PMID: 39682056
DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13409

Abstract

Background: There are currently few appropriate instruments for assessing nutrition care competencies in clinical practice. This study aimed to develop a perceived nutrition care competencies (PNCC) scale for dietetic students and test its validity. Factors that influence PNCC scores were examined through a cross-sectional study.

Methodology: This cross-sectional survey involved 501 dietetic students (mean age of 21.4 years, 428 females) and employed a web-based questionnaire between September 2022 and February 2023. A scale derived from previous research was used to assess nutrition management practices and basic dietetic competencies. Questionnaire data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors: nutritional status assessment and preparation for intervention, communication skills for nutritional support, nutritional diagnosis and recording, supplementation suggestions and coordination and dietitian orientation and attitude. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that field practice increased the 'nutrition diagnosis and recording' scores, and the subconcepts 'nutrition diagnosis and recording' and 'suggestion and coordination of nutritional supplementation' showed odds ratios (ORs) <1 for the 'online role-play among students' experience. In addition, experience with face-to-face simulated patients increased the total scores (OR 2.46, 95% confidence interval 1.43-4.22, p = 0.001).

Conclusions: The PNCC scale demonstrated reliability and validity, offering a valuable measure of dietetics students' perceptions of their nutrition care practice competence. The findings highlight the need to increase the willingness of the students to work as dietitians and to incorporate realistic, safe learning experiences beyond on-site practice to enhance nutrition management practice competency.

Keywords: dietetic students; nutrition care process; perceived nutrition care competencies scale; simulation‐based learning.

MeSH terms

Adult
Clinical Competence*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dietetics* / education
East Asian People
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Humans
Japan
Male
Nutrition Therapy / methods
Nutrition Therapy / standards
Nutritionists / education
Reproducibility of Results
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult

Grants and funding

None