INTRODUCTION

1. Intern Research Program Initiative in a Dietetic Internship to Increase Research Ability of Interns and Registered Dietitian Mentors Intern Research Investigate Outcomes 2009- 2010 Improvements Intern Research Investigate Outcomes 2011- 2012 2010- 2011 A. Charny, L. Magnavita, K. Rivera, A. DeMage, L. DeHaven, C. Banta ARAMARK Healthcare Distance Learning Dietetic Internship, Philadelphia, PA INTRODUCTION ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION • Research providing recommendations in practice and justification of services is essential for the dietetics profession. • The ability of both experienced and entry-level dietetic practitioners to conduct research is necessary. • To meet these needs the ARAMARK Healthcare Distance Learning Dietetic Internship initiated a program incorporating research experience for interns and RDs, evaluation of their feedback and continuous annual improvements. . BACKGROUND • 2010-2011 • During the2010-2011 internship year, an ARAMARK dietetic intern developed a research project to determine ARAMARK intern and RD ability and training needs to perform research. • This study found that 65% of RDs and 77% of dietetic interns want to acquire research skills. • Categories of need were: conducting outcomes research, designing the research method, statistical analysis of data, and writing a journal article. • 2011-2012 • To meet these needs the ARAMARK Healthcare Distance Learning Dietetic Internship initiated a program for the 2011-2012 DI year in which dietetic interns were partnered with a RD mentor. • Both were provided guidelines toward research design, method, statistical analysis and writing for journal publication. • Together they conducted a full scale research project throughout the DI year. • Outcomes of this initiative were evaluated by a dietetic intern during the 2011-2012 year to determine interns’ and RDs’ perceived ability and training needs to perform research after incorporation of intern/RD partnering and provision of research guidelines. • 2009-2010 • During the2009-2010 internship year, ARAMARK Dietetic Internship Directors developed a project description and rubric outlining the steps of the research process, for use by the interns to conduct a research project at their practice sites. • This intern practice experience project was incorporated into the DI to meet ACEND competency, providing valuable research experience for interns, as well as target a research need at their ARAMARK practice site. • Due to limited and varied research experience of interns prior to entering the DI it was determined that their specific feedback was needed to best serve their needs and meet the required research competency. • The 2008 Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards for Dietetic Internships (DI) included the learning outcome that upon completion of the DI graduates are able to conduct research projects using appropriate research methods, ethical procedures and statistical analysis. • TheARAMARK Healthcare Distance Learning Dietetic Internship requires each intern to conduct an Emerging Trends in Dietetics research project during their DI to achieve competency to conduct research. CONCLUSIONS • The ARAMARK Internship Program’s initiative to increase research ability of its interns and RD employees provides annual opportunity to practice the research process, data collection on their research needs and incorporation of continuous improvements based on evaluation of this data. • Continuous improvement has been the development and implementation of guidelines to perform research to assist our intern and RD practitioners through the research process. • This initiative can ultimately contribute to increased competency of RD professionals to perform research in practice and could serve as a model for other internship programs seeking to incorporate or expand research experience for its interns, preceptors and mentors. EVALUATION OBJECTIVE CONTACT INFORMATION For additional information, please contact: Allison Charny, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN Eastern Regional Director ARAMARK Healthcare Distance Learning Dietetic Internship charny-allison@aramark.com The objective of this initiative has been to increase research competency of interns and RD mentors by implementing annual research training, practice experience, outcomes measurement and program improvements for the following year.