Anne de Looy (adelooy@plymouth.ac.uk)
DIETS Coordinator and University of Plymouth
The beginning of a fascinating story for European dietitians took place in Roskilde, Denmark in 2003 when a challenge was thrown down by the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) to meet professional issues such as the diversity of education, registration and quality of practice in dietetics across Europe. Work started addressing the issues in the ‘EFAD Roskilde Declaration’ and in 2005 The European Dietetic Academic and Practitioner Standards (
www.efad.org) were prepared and unanimously adopted by EFAD delegates. These standards are often referred to as the ‘Benchmark Statement’ and of course that is what they are, they set a standard for education of dietitians. Not only are they a standard but also they became a very important ‘political’ lever to support dietitians in some European countries to improve pre-qualifying education. Four years after the Benchmark publication at least three countries in Europe have moved from a diploma based qualifying programme to degree and another has been given governmental backing to do the same. This is a terrific achievement for dietitians in Europe.
But it was also clear that funds were required to progress development of the profession in Europe further and, together with a small team and the backing of EFAD, a successful bid for about 1million Euros was awarded by the EU. A Thematic Network ‘Dietitians Improving Education and Training Standards’ or DIETS. (
www.thematicnetworkdietetics) was started in 2006. (Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nurses and radiotherapists also have these European Networks)
The DIETS Network had 128 partner institutions, NGOs and Associations from some 28 European countries. Between 2006 and 2009 three conferences, were held, 8 Newsletters produced and working groups produced reports on
Ø the use by dietitians of Information Technology and Communication (ITC);
Ø academic and practice placements across Europe,
Ø best practice in dietetic education and change over three years;
Ø Dissemination activities and added value of a Thematic Network for dietitians.
And 48 exchange visits were made between dietitians and their academic colleagues across Europe to learn more about culture, education and dietetic practice. All of the information including documents used to assess practice across Europe is on the DIETS website.
But DIETS also produced pan European Dietetic Competence Statements and their performance indicators for newly qualified European dietitians. These were adopted by EFAD in 2009 and are available on their website in 15 European languages. Practice Placement Standards have also been formulated based on best practice across Europe and these were adopted by EFAD at its General Meeting in September 2010. The Roskilde Declaration has now been nearly fulfilled as has a subsequent Taormina Resolution (2007). However not quite!
On October 1st DIETS2 will begin to carry on the good work started in DIETS, again funded by the EU. This three year project will look specifically at practice placements in novel surroundings; produce a ‘toolkit’ for European dietitians concerning Life Long Learning; become involved in promoting the use of ITC for learning and especially the production of resources for teaching enquiry based learning. In addition DIETS2 will produce dietetic competences for Master level and doctoral level dietitians. As in the past EFAD is a key partner and DIETS has now been formally adopted as part of the Education Committee of EFAD. This not only endorses DIETS but also ensures sustainability.
DIETS2 draws on partners from all 31 countries of Europe (including the aspiring countries such as Turkey). An interesting fact is that Lichtenstein only has 4 dietitians. Once again there will be a huge amount of sharing of information and willingness to collaborate to enhance dietetic practice. What is so remarkable is the enthusiasm to share resources and expertise and the motivation to succeed. Dietitians are doing fantastic work in many countries as the 48 posters at our last conference demonstrated. They were all written in English and it never ceases to amaze how very willing everyone is to communicate in English. We are very fortunate in this respect.
Our first DIETS2 conference is in Amsterdam on the 3rd and 4th of December, we will then go to Spain in 2011 and Bulgaria in 2012.
So it is an unfolding story of the progress of dietitians to influence their education and professional standards in Europe. The work done by DIETS augments that undertaken in individual countries and by sharing and supporting improvements to practice are facilitated.
