Characteristics and Drivers of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist’s Sustained Involvement in Clinical Research Activities: A Mixed Methods Study

Research contributions by registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are important for enhancing the use of nutrition-related evidence-based guidelines in dietetics practice. Involvement of RDNs in research activities has been studied previously, but little is known about the drivers (motivators) of sustaining research involvement by RDNs who work in clinical practice. To identify key characteristics of established RDN clinician researchers and drivers that contributed to their sustained research involvement. We used a convergent parallel mixed methods study design utilizing the clinician career research trajectory as a framework. Research involvement was examined using the Practice-Based Dietitian Research Involvement Survey (PBDRIS). Workplace support was assessed using the Research Capacity and Culture (RCC) survey. Semistructured interviews were used to investigate key themes in established RDN clinician researchers. We identified 450 RDNs involved with research activities in the United States through hand-searching clinically relevant nutrition journals and contacted them to participate in an online survey. A total of 29 RDNs met criteria and completed (6.4%) the quantitative survey, then a subsample (n=10) participated in semistructured interviews to explore drivers for continued research involvement. Research involvement scores (n=29) from the PBDRIS ranged from 60.0% to 97.5%, indicating involvement in higher-level research-related tasks by our sample participants. RCC results revealed the importance of workplace support and mentorship. Interviews with established RDN clinician researchers identified exposure, curiosity, and dedication as three overarching themes with eight subthemes driving continued research involvement. Based on the experiences of select RDN clinician researchers who have demonstrated success in sustaining their research involvement, we found that having an available mentor, support from their workplace environment, and personal drive were integral to their success.