The Impact of an Experiential Introduction of Mindfulness to Registered Dietitians
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Date
2010-06
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Mindfulness techniques have been shown to be successful mechanisms for use with eating therapies. Registered dietitians (RDs) are continually looking for innovative approaches with which to augment nutrition counseling for eating behaviors. The purpose of this study was to introduce mindfulness, both theoretically and experientially, to RD participants (n=138) through continuing education (CE) sessions at professional meetings. Participants attended one of five one-hour workshops which were given at professional meetings over a six-month period. Pre/post-presentation surveys were given the day of each presentation, and a three-month follow-up e-mail survey was used to assess changes in personal behaviors and professional mindfulness implementation. Before the presentation, 57% of RD's (n=79) had heard about mindful eating techniques for dietetics. Following the presentation, 83% (n=118) of RD's reported likeliness to investigate mindfulness for personal use and 73% (n=100) for professional use. Of the three month follow-up survey RD respondents (n=32), 25% (n=8) had sought information about mindfulness techniques, 59% (n=19) had used mindfulness personally and 31% (n=10) had used it professionally. Implementing mindfulness techniques into professional practice is correlated with personal application of mindfulness (p=.013, r=.318), yet it is more strongly correlated with seeking mindfulness information (p=.009, r=.335). These results highlight the recommendation that CE sessions introduce mindfulness to RDs with a personal application focus, in order to prepare them to use mindfulness techniques in their professional practices.
Description
Ohio Dietetic Association Undergraduate Research Award
Keywords
mindfulness, dietetics, complementary and alternative medicine, mindful eating, health professional education, registered dietitian