Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) that responded to a cross-sectional, anonymous, online survey of individuals working in a paid position in public health and community nutrition (n = 316) and U.S. and global public health and community nutrition experts that participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 12)
| Characteristics | Online survey participants, n (%) | Interview participants, n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| ←n (%)→ | ||
| Sex | ||
| Female | 308 (97.5) | 11 (91.7) |
| Male | 8 (2.5) | 1 (8.3) |
| Race/ethnicity | ||
| White | 265 (83.9) | 7 (58.3) |
| Hispanic or Latinx | 16 (5.1) | 2 (16.7) |
| Black or African American | 13 (4.1) | 1 (8.3) |
| Asian | 12 (3.8) | 0 |
| Multiple | 8 (2.5) | 0 |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | 1 (0.3) | 0 |
| Choose not to answer | 1 (0.3) | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 2 (16.7) |
| Highest degree completed | ||
| Currently a student | 1 (0.3) | 0 |
| Associate’s | 1 (0.3) | 0 |
| Baccalaureate | 110 (34.8) | 0 |
| Master’s | 183 (57.9) | 7 (58.3) |
| Doctorate | 20 (6.3) | 4 (33.3) |
| Professional (eg, MD, JD) | 1 (0.3) | 1 (8.3) |
| Employment status | ||
| Full-time (≥30 h/wk) | 256 (81.0) | 12 (100.0) |
| Part-time (<30 h/wk) | 60 (19.0) | 0 |
| Years of practice in public health nutrition/community nutrition | ||
| <5 | 140 (44.3) | 0 |
| 6-10 | 58 (18.4) | 1 (8.3) |
| 11-25 | 72 (22.8) | 6 (50.0) |
| >25 | 46 (14.6) | 5 (41.7) |
| Academy membership status | ||
| Member | 305 (96.5) | 7 (58.3) |
| Nonmember | 11 (3.5) | 5 (41.7) |
| RDNacredential status | ||
| Has RDN credential | 288 (91.1) | 7 (58.3) |
| Does not have RDN credential | 28 (8.9) | 5 (41.7) |
| Employment setting | ||
| Community public health | 42 (13.3) | 0 |
| Local department of public health | 37 (11.7) | 0 |
| State department of public health | 31 (9.8) | 0 |
| College/university faculty | 26 (8.2) | 5 (41.7) |
| Clinic or ambulatory care | 21 (6.6) | 0 |
| Hospital health center | 19 (6.0) | 0 |
| Charitable organization | 16 (5.1) | 0 |
| School food service | 16 (5.1) | 0 |
| Self-employed (individual) | 11 (3.5) | 4 (33.3) |
| Federal agency | 9 (2.8) | 1 (8.3) |
| Otherb | 88 (27.8) | 4 (33.3) |
RDN = registered dietitian nutritionist.
Other employment settings include government settings (outside of public health departments), domestic nonprofits, extended-care facilities, research centers, self-employed (organizations), college/university food service, health maintenance organizations, home health care primaries, international nonprofits, religious organizations, and self-employed (health care).