Consultation on Draft Accreditation
Standards for Dietetic
Internship/Practicum Programs
Summary of Findings
Presentation for PDEP Annual Meeting
June 12, 2013
Overview of Presentation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Background
Purpose of consultation
Approach
On-line survey respondents
On-line survey overall findings
Integrated findings
a. Overarching themes
b. Key areas for consideration
7. Next Steps
1. Background: Development of
Standards
• In April 2012, PDEP SC appointed an Accreditation
Standards Development Working Group (ASDWG) to
develop new standards for the accreditation of education
programs
• ASDWG membership included Dietetic Education
Programs (4), regulators (1) and Dietitians of Canada (1)
• The draft accreditation standards were reviewed by the
PDEP SC in January 2013 and a revision was completed
for use for the consultation phase of this project
• In March, 2013 The PDEP SC contracted Parker-Taillon
Consulting Inc. to conduct the consultation process
1. Background: Overview of PDEP
Accreditation Standards (1)
Six Standards:
• Program Governance and Structure
• Program Administration: Students/Interns
• Program Administration: Curriculum
• Program Administration: Academic and
Professional Staff
• Program Administration: Resources
• Program Evaluation
1. Background: Overview of PDEP
Accreditation Standards (2)
Elements:
• Standard Statement: Overall expectation of the
educational program
• Criteria: Specified expectations forming the basis for
testing or judging whether a standard has been met
• Elaboration: Expectations for meeting the criterion
• Documentation required: Documentation requirements
and examples of how the criterion can be met
2. Purpose of Consultation
To engage stakeholders in determining if the
draft Standards:
•are applicable
•are achievable
•are understandable
•permit program autonomy
•have appropriate documentation requirements
3. Approach: Overview
Consultation involved three major activities:
• Focus Group Consultation
• On-line Consultation
• Analysis/Report preparation
3. Approach: Focus Group Consultation
• Two focus groups were held by
teleconference in April/May 2013
• Participants involved:
– members of the Alliance of Canadian Dietetic
Regulatory Bodies (n=10)
– representatives of Dietitians of Canada (n=10)
• Focus groups were 1.5 hours in length and
questions were pre-circulated
3. Approach: On-line Survey
• Conducted over three weeks in May 2013
using on-line survey tool (SurveyMonkey)
• The survey was distributed to 59
stakeholders from three stakeholder
groups
– dietetic education programs
– accreditation committee members
– accreditation surveyors
3. Approach: Analysis and Report
Preparation
• The Consultants reviewed the findings from the
focus groups and on-line survey individually and
identified key themes
• The key themes from the two activities were
then analyzed and integrated
• The draft Preliminary Report was prepared and
submitted to the AWG and PDEP Steering
Committee for feedback.
• The document was revised based on the
feedback received.
4. On-line Survey: Respondents (1)
• Received a total of 41 responses, resulting
in an overall response rate of 69%.
• Responses by stakeholder group*
– dietetic education programs (92.5%)
– accreditation committee members (25%)
– accreditation surveyors (12.5%)
*Note: Total >100% as respondents were able to
indicate more than one group.
4. On-line Survey: Respondents (2)
• Responses by type of education program:
– integrated program (44.4%)
– stand alone internship program (33.3%)
– combined Master’s program (13.9%)
– stand alone academic program (8.3%)
• Location of respondents: Nine of ten
provinces were represented
5. On-line Survey: Overall findings (1)
Overall a high level of agreement with the
Standards document:
• There was >90% agreement that all of the draft
Standards statements were clear and relevant
• For Standards 3 and 6 there was >90% agreement for all
of the related criteria, elaboration, and documentation
requested
• For the other Standards (1, 2, 4, and 5) there was > 80%
agreement for all but three of the related criteria,
elaboration, and document requested
• The documentation requested for 11 of the 24 criteria
had <90% agreement
5. Online survey: Overall findings (2)
Standard 1 Program Governance
and Structure
Over 90% agreement with all Elements except:
•Elaboration 1.4
•Documentation 1.2, 1.4, 1.5
Standard 2 Program Administration:
Students/Interns
Over 90% agreement with all Elements except:
•Documentation 2.1 , 2.2, and 2.3
Standard 3 Program Administration:
Curriculum
Over 90% agreement with all Elements
Standard 4 Program Administration:
Academic and Professional Staff
Over 90% agreement with all Elements except:
•Elaboration and Documentation for 4.1, 4.2 4.3
Standard 5 Program Administration:
Resources
Over 90% agreement with all Elements except:
•Criterion and Documentation for 5.3 and 5.4
Standard 6 Program Evaluation
Over 90% agreement with all Elements
6. Integrated Findings
Integrated focus groups and on-line survey
findings are presented under three
topics:
a. Overarching themes
b. Key areas for consideration
6 a. Overarching Themes in the
Feedback (1) - General
• Diversity of Programs: Generally positive
feedback about combining the standards. Need
to recognize diversity – focus on outcomes
• Growth and future innovation: Differing views
• Transition period needed
• Resource implications: Need more discussion
with university administration
• Documentation requested: Add more specific
information about expectations
6 a. Overarching Themes in the
Feedback (2) - Gaps
Examples of gaps identified included:
• Add definition and guidelines for minimum
number of internship/practicum hours (Criterion
3.2)
• Address development of quality improvement
and professional leadership.
• Include research as a value of the standards.
• Add more detail about coordination between
university, placement, professional systems
• Add more detail about accreditation decisions
6 b. Key Areas for Consideration
Focus on the following four key areas:
• Three elements where there was <80%
agreement:
– Criteria 1.2 Documentation requested
– Criteria 4.2 Elaboration
– Criteria 4.3 Elaboration/Documentation requested
• Overarching issue: Criteria 3.2 Documentation
Requested
6 b. Key Areas for Consideration
Standard 1 - Program Governance
and Structure –1.2
Criteria 1.2 The Program’s parent institution/organization supports the
achievement of program objectives and student/intern centered,
professional practice education
Documentation requested
1.2.1.2 Documentation that the parent organization/ institution recognizes
that the status of the Program is equivalent to other professional practice
education programs.
Feedback:
• Unclear about documentation requested
• What is meant by "other" professional practice education programs?
• Wonder if documentation needs to frame the status of the program in
comparison to other programs, or simply to recognize it as a professional
practice education program (or perhaps could add that “program
prepares graduates for entry into a regulated health profession”)
6 b. Key Areas for Consideration
Standard 4 - Program Administration:
Academic and Professional Staff - 4.2
Criteria 4.2 The individual responsible for directing the Program is a dietitian who has the
appropriate credentials and is appointed by an administrative head within the
institution/organization.
Elaboration for Academic Programs
4.2.1: The designated dietetics program director (faculty member responsible for directing
the Program) has a PhD, is appointed to a full-time tenure/ tenure-track position and
is registered with the provincial dietetic regulatory body.
4.2.3 The dietetics program director receives a minimum of one-half unit of course relief
per semester or equivalent.
Feedback on 4.2.1
• The PhD requirement for the Program director may be limiting
• Rather than focusing on credentials, could the focus for the Program Director be on
roles or functions, e.g., authority, responsibility and time to manage the program.
Feedback on 4.2.3
• This may be restrictive and impact on a program’s flexibility to meet the criterion.
Some university’s collective agreements do not offer course relief.
• Key issue should be that the director is given adequate time to carry out functions
6 b. Key Areas for Consideration
Standard 4 - Program Administration:
Academic and Professional Staff - 4.2
Criteria 4.2 The individual responsible for directing the Program is a dietitian who has the
appropriate credentials and is appointed by an administrative head within the
institution/organization.
Elaboration for Internship/Practicum Programs:
4.2.4 Practicum/internship program coordinator has a post-graduate degree; is registered
with the provincial dietetic regulatory body; has a permanent, or renewable contract
position (with term); and has a minimum of three years of work experience prior to
appointment.
4.2.5 Practicum/internship program coordinator must have time (1 FTE per 15- 20
interns/practicum students) and support to managing all required aspects of the
program.
Feedback on 4.2.4
• Is it necessary for the coordinator to have a post-graduate degree, e.g., would it be
more important to focus on the specific qualifications to support dietetic intern
learning?
• Is a minimum of three years experience sufficient to have the necessary skills (e.g.,
program evaluation, curriculum development, conflict resolution)?
Feedback on 4.2.5
• In some programs this ratio may be restrictive and prevent expansion of the program.
• Good to have this ratio; however, it is too high and doesn’t reflect current norms.
6 b. Key Areas for Consideration
Standard 4 - Program Administration:
Academic and Professional Staff - 4.3
Criteria 4.3. The number and type of academic appointments and professional positions
to the Program are sufficient to achieve learning outcomes.
Elaboration For Academic Programs:
4.3.1 The program has no fewer than four full-time faculty members who hold a
tenure-track/tenured appointment and who are registered with the provincial dietetic
regulatory body. At least two of the appointments are with professorial rank, i.e.
assistant, associate or full professor.
Feedback on 4.3.1
• How was this number determined and what is the evidence to support this; could a
ratio that is based on number of students and placements be more useful?
• This doesn’t support program diversity and the need to consider other faculty with
different backgrounds who enhance programs, such as Agriculture, Food Science,
Adult Education, or part-time faculty members, who are highly qualified and skilled
senior expert dietitians.
• There are not many RDs who have the level of education required to have a tenuretrack appointment
6 b. Key Areas for Consideration
Standard 3 - Program Administration:
Curriculum – 3.2
Criterion 3.2 The curriculum is logically constructed to achieve expected learning
outcomes for students/interns.
Elaboration 3.2.1 The curriculum sequencing is appropriate for progressive student/intern
learning. Flow of learning builds in complexity with reinforcement as required to
achieve the ICDEP
Documentation requested 3.2.1.2 Evidence that internship/practicum meets guideline
requirements including a minimum of 1250 hours of applied learning in a practice
setting (definition and guidelines being developed).
Feedback
• How was the 1250 hours or applied learning in a practice setting was determined?
What is the definition of a practice setting?
• Please note that most programs use cases, simulation, applied workshops and
educational sessions to fulfill the competencies and to support student/intern learning.
• If programs are competency based, then why is a specific number of hours given?
Perhaps this could be more of a guideline.
7. Summary and Next Steps
• Overall the Standards were very well received
• Common themes in the feedback:
– More clarification about basis of some requirements
– More clarification about some documentation expectations
– More flexibility (focus on outcomes) and perhaps use specifics
as guidelines
• Next steps include:
– Re-engage the Accreditation Standards Working Group to
complete revisions to the Standards document
– Implementation of the Standards
• Thank you! Questions?