Professionalism in the Dietitian: What is it and how can it be incorporated into undergraduate training?

Abstract

Professionalism is a fundamental aspect in the training and professional practice of a dietitian that has been implicitly in-cluded and developed in standards of practice. However, recently, an attempt to establish a common terminology for its definition has been made. The concept of professionalism is based on four central aspects: a) personal attributes such as empathy, self-awareness and emotional intelligence, b) interpersonal communication, both with peers, other health professionals and users, c) approach to practice, which considers the laws and regulations that govern professional actions, and 4) commitment to lifelong learning, such as the process of reflection and self-evaluation. To guarantee professionalism in dietitians, the teaching of professionalism must be considered formally in the plan of study, implementing different educational techniques and corresponding evaluations that guarantee the acquisition of necessary knowledge and skills. In the training process, the context and environment in which students work is especially relevant for an optimal use of resources.