Abstract
Investigating The European Public Health Nutrition Workforce, The JobNut Project
Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, Vol.55(Supplement 1), p.185
International Congress Of Nutrition: Nutrition Security For All, 19th (Bangkok, Thailand, 04-Oct-2009 - 09-Oct-2009)
2009
Abstract
Rationale and Objectives: The JOBNUT project investigated current training programs and future needs for public health nutritionists in Europe. The objectives of this particular work package were to investigate the employers' expectations of public health nutritionists' competencies and training needs, as well as the organisational location of this workforce across Europe. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study design was used, including semi-structured interviews among selected stakeholders in 8 countries. The 58 interviewees were representatives of government (national, regional and local), the private sector, academia, NGO's and IGO's. Additionally, 10 recent graduates in public health nutrition were also interviewed. Results and Findings: Most of the public health nutrition work was described as taking place at local level by authorities, health centres and NGO's. More specifically, school teachers, nurses and general practitioners were doing a lot of the hands-on work. A complex picture emerged of different professional groups doing work in public health nutrition, leaving little room for well-trained public health nutritionists. In the UK and Sweden, the respondents raised serious doubt whether General Medical Practitioners had the right competencies to perform a lot of the tasks. There was confusion among employers as to the roles and responsibilities for public health nutritionists, and graduates confirmed that employers were unfamiliar with the skills and competencies needed. All respondents expressed a need for developing a public health nutrition workforce structure. Conclusion: Public health nutritionists, as a workforce, were largely found missing in the reviewed organizations and structures. Some countries showed to be more developed in this regard and employers in those countries saw the value of employing public health nutritionists. There is a need to further market the knowledge and skills of public health nutritionists., and to show the specific competencies required by the nurses, General Medical Practitioners, and school teachers when they are actively working in the area. This study was supported by the Leonardo Programme within the Directorate for Education and Culture, European Commission.
Details
- Title
- Investigating The European Public Health Nutrition Workforce, The JobNut Project
- Authors
- S Kugelberg (Author) - Karolinska Institutet, SwedenC Bjarnholt (Author) - Karolinska Institutet, SwedenRoger Hughes (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and EducationA K Yngve (Author) - Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Publication details
- Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, Vol.55(Supplement 1), p.185
- Conference details
- International Congress Of Nutrition: Nutrition Security For All, 19th (Bangkok, Thailand, 04-Oct-2009 - 09-Oct-2009)
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- DOI
- 10.1159/000248283
- ISSN
- 0250-6807
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449778602621
- Output Type
- Abstract
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