Applying Design Thinking to Identify the Challenges of the Supervised Learning Experience/Supervised Practice Process for Dietetics Program Directors

Dietetics program directors in the United States are key to the supervised experiential learning/supervised practice (i.e., internship) process. While it is known among dietetics program directors that this is a demanding aspect of their roles, no research has documented its challenges. Using design thinking, this study aimed to understand the challenges of the supervised experiential learning/supervised practice process for dietetics program directors to inform future solutions. Seventeen dietetics program directors in the United States participated in one of six 60-min focus groups via Zoom in October 2022. Most participants represented didactic programs in dietetics or dietetic internship programs. All focus groups were recorded and transcribed. Themes were identified using thematic analysis. The top three program director challenges with the supervised experiential learning/supervised practice process were placement site logistics, dietetic student mentorship, and engaging preceptors. Concerns about the profession, as well as matters related to racism and diversity, were also present. The supervised experiential learning/supervised practice process presents numerous challenges for dietetics program directors. To address the identified difficulties, all entities in the dietetics space must collaborate, including program directors, preceptors, universities, and professional dietetics bodies. Future research should investigate solutions to the identified challenges.