Evaluation Of the Process of Dietician Profession and Dietitians' Perspectives on The Future of The Profession: A Study Based on The Turkish Sample

ABSTRACT Research focuses current work processes of dietitians, their opinions and profession outlook. Online Google Survey, consisting of questions including sociodemographic characteristics, current state of dietitian profession and outlook was conducted across Turkey. Statistical package software SPSS v26 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) used for analyzing. Of the 400 dietitians, 52.0% worked for 1 to 5 years, 52.0% works through online consultancy. 88.5% do not think the public has sufficient information on identity of the dietitian, and 88.4% think the reason is lack of a Dietitians’ Association. 95.3% think the dietitian employment is not sufficient, and the reason is the high number of graduates and high number of departments opened at the university with 80.8%. The primary reason by 70.0% wanting to work overseas is because 76.4% believe there are better working circumstances. 57.8% do not think sufficient dietitian employment will be possible in the future, and the most common reason stated by 81.4% is personal/health expenses are not seen as a priority due to economy. Majority, 51.5%, do not think working conditions will be improved in future and the reason is; 78.2% think the definition will continue to remain as an intermediate occupational group. 14.2% don’t think the profession will continue in the distant future is because the the AI will develop. Dietitians in Turkey are dissatisfied with their working conditions and believe these unfavorable circumstances will persist in the future.