An Exploration of Dietetic Students' Experiences in a Noncourse-based Service-Learning Opportunity in a Canadian Academic Setting

Purpose: To investigate the experiences of dietetic students in a faculty -supervised, noncourse-based service-learning (NSL) opportunity called Nutrition Ignition! (NII) to understand how NSL activities contribute to dietetic education. Methods: This study used focus group methodology. A convenience sample was recruited from current members of NII. Participants completed a brief demographic questionnaire and then engaged in a focus group discussion led by a trained moderator who followed a semi-structured guide. Six focus group discussions were transcribed, and a common theme template was developed by researchers. Results: Out of 46 eligible members of NII, 33 agreed to participate. The main reasons participants joined NII were to develop professional skills and to help children in the community. Participants discussed many out-comes from their participation in NII, including enhanced communication skills, especially in terms of knowledge translation; increased ability to be flexible and adapt to "real-world" situations; deeper awareness of the research process; and expanded world view. Conclusion: This study suggests that NSL is an effective way to build dietetic students' personal and professional skills and provide an additional opportunity in academic settings to prepare dietetic students for entry-level practice.