Employment Outcomes among Registered Dietitians following Graduation in Manitoba.

Purpose: The study objectives were to (i) describe employment outcomes among Registered Dietitians (RDs) who graduated from the University of Manitoba, (ii) test for differences in employment outcomes according to graduation year, and (iii) compare preferred area of practice and geography prior to employment with past and current employment. Methods: Graduates of the Human Nutritional Sciences program (2006-2015) were invited to participate in an online survey. Data on respondent demographics, education, and employment outcomes were collected. Results: Overall, 133 (68%) respondents self-identified as RDs. RDs who had graduated between 2006 and 2011 were significantly more likely to secure employment within 6 months post-graduation compared with RDs that graduated between 2012 and 2015. Geographically, although 56% of RDs did not wish to gain experience in rural/remote communities upon graduating, 44% of these respondents reported working part- or full-time in a rural/remote location at some point during their career. Conclusion: Findings indicate that a substantial number of RDs in Manitoba are employed in a rural or remote location despite acknowledging that it is not a preferred location. Future research is needed to explore the views and experiences of new and established RDs toward rural or remote practice, including preparedness for practice.

Diversity and Equity in Dietetics and Undergraduate Nutrition Education in Manitoba.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were (i) to describe ethnicity, tuition funding sources, and living arrangements during degree among Registered Dietitian (RD) and non-RD alumni of the University of Manitoba's undergraduate nutrition program and (ii) to describe barriers to obtaining an internship among those who did not become an RD. METHODS: A 31-item, self-administered, online questionnaire was distributed to nutrition graduates. Binary logistic regression was used to test for predictors of RD status (vs. non-RD). RESULTS: Of the 195 participants who completed the survey (37% response rate), 68% identified as an RD and 31% did not. White students had 3.8 times higher odds of being an RD (P < 0.001) compared with students of an ethnic minority. Those who had received a student loan (P = 0.033) or lived with their parents during their degree (P = 0.004) also had significantly lower odds of being an RD. The most common barrier for not completing the dietetic internship by non-RDs was that the application process was too stressful. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study highlight the need for the dietetics field to address systemic barriers for students of ethnic minorities and low socioeconomic backgrounds, including barriers during the degree program and in the internship selection process.