Professional competencies and public health content in the human nutrition and dietetics degree program: A qualitative study based on experts' consensus

Abstract

Objective. To gather consensus on professional competencies and basic public health content for the degree program in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (HND). Design. In 2018, the Fifth Meeting of University Public Health Professors took place in Zaragoza (Spain). Fourteen lecturers in the HND degree program participated from 11 Spanish universities. They identified competencies and basic content for training for the HND degree using group dynamics and consensus strategies. Results. The professors identified 51 basic competencies, distributed in the areas of “evaluation of population health needs” (n = 20), “development of health policies” (n = 23), and “guaranteeing provision of health care services” (n = 8). In order to reach these competencies, 35 topics were proposed organized into six thematic blocks: foundations of public health, nutritional epidemiology, health problems and diet and nutrition strategies, food security, health in all policies and health promotion and education. Conclusion. The consensus reached serves as a reference to orient and update public health education as a part of the HND degree.