Effect of a helping skills transfer program on dietitians' helping behavior.

The ability to form effective helping relationships clients constitutes an essential element in dietary counseling. Still, little evidence exists which supports the fact that dietitians have the necessary communication skills to achieve this end. This study evaluates an attempt to have nutrition students use skills in their dietary counseling sessions to facilitate the development of helping relationships. Results showed that students previously trained in helping skills significantly increased the use of verbal responses which convey a willingness to help and an accurate understanding of clients' problems.