The Problems o f the Dietitians Working in Hospitals in Ankara Region Relating to Their Working Conditions and Their Professions

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the problems of the dietitians working in both public and private hospitals, relating to their working conditions and their professions. Ninety-four dietitians, 92 women 2 men, with a mean age o f 32.7± 8.59 years, from 53 public and 41 private hospitals in Ankara have participated to the study. Data was gathered by a questionnaire applied under the supervision of the researcher. The average working period o f dietitians was 5.9±7.28 years. The average number of the dietitian at the hospitals was 8±5.78. The average working period o f dietitians in clinic, in polyclinic and in administration was estimated as 4.3±2.35 hours, 4±1.90 hours and 4.1 ± 2.90 hours, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the duration spent in clinics, polyclinics and administration departments o f dietitians working in public and private hospitals (p<0.001). There were 15.2±9.99 patients for each dietitian working in polyclinic as consultant dietitian. Out o f total, 38.4% o f dietitians have post-graduate degree and 55.1% stated that they have appropriate conditions to do scientific researches. The most important problems about their professions were; the absence o f law for dietetic professions (95.6%), excess number ° f patients (51.6%), having less authority in performing the professional responsibilities (48.5%), confusion in authorization (46.6%), communication problems with the senior staff (48.1%), communication problems with the inferior staff (44.7%), nonconformity in working conditions (32.2%). Totally 98.1% o f the dietitians expressed the insufficiency o f the professional organization. More powerful professional activities, collaboration, and an effective usage o f media and public organs were thought to be effective in solving the problems.