Productivity of the clinical dietitian: measurement by a regression model.

Productivity of 283 clinical dietitians employed in 40-bed to 1,200-bed medical centers and community and general hospitals nationwide was measured from a survey. Stepwise multiple linear regression statistical analyses were used to analyze data. Five measures of productivity were developed; hours in non-patient care divided by total hours worked and the activity level in activities nonproductive in relation to the job description activities produced the better models for measuring productivity of the clinical dietitian. Activity levels measured in the study showed high-level task activities (consuming a large amount of work time) were conducting individual diet instructions, conducting nutrition assessments, reviewing and recording in medical records, and supervising support personnel. Taking anthropometric measurements, participating in medical rounds, attending professional conferences, and purchasing and dispensing specialized products were found to be low-level task activities (consuming little work time). The average amount of time spent on the job per week was 42.7 hours with a mean of 20.4 hours spent in direct patient care, 13.6 hours in indirect patient care, and 7.3 hours in nonpatient care.