Table 3 Demographic characteristics of respondents [n, %]

Sector of dietetics where respondents worked for a substantial amount of time

n = 2669^a

n = 415

n = 367

n = 904

 Clinical dietetics

1394 (82.7)

331 (79.8)

302 (82.3)

761 (84.2)

 Educating students or other health professionals

533 (31.6)

113 (27.2)

76 (20.7)

344 (38.1)

 Research

169 (10.0)

26 (6.3)

57 (15.5)

86 (9.5)

 Food service/food industry

100 (5.9)

43 (10.4)

34 (9.3)

23 (2.5)

 Public health/policy

236 (14.0)

56 (13.5)

66 (18.0)

114 (12.6)

 Professional dietetic body/government agency

35 (2.1)

8 (1.9)

8 (2.2)

19 (2.1)

 Managing dietetic services

161 (9.5)

31 (7.5)

36 (9.8)

94 (10.4)

 Media

41 (2.4)

21 (5.1)

4 (1.1)

16 (1.8)

Number of years experience as a dietitian

n = 1686

n = 415

n = 367

n = 904

 0–2

210 (12.5)

15 (3.6)

80 (21.8)

115 (12.7)

 3–5

312 (18.5)

50 (12.0)

85 (23.2)

117 (19.6)

 6–10

342 (20.3)

60 (14.5)

80 (21.8)

202 (22.3)

 11–20

395 (23.4)

93 (22.4)

67 (18.3)

235 (26.0)

 21 or more

427 (25.3)

197 (47.5)

55 (15.0)

175 (19.4)

Highest academic degree

n = 1686

n = 415

n = 367

n = 904

 Bachelor

794 (47.1)

130 (31.3)

179 (48.8)

485 (53.7)

 Masters

800 (47.4)

252 (60.7)

169 (46.0)

379 (41.9)

 Doctorate

74 (4.4)

24 (5.8)

17 (4.6)

33 (3.7)

 Other qualification

18 (1.1)

9 (2.2)

2 (0.5)

7 (0.8)