Menu planning competencies in administrative dietetic practice. I. The methodology.

This research was intended to develop a methodology to analyze competencies in one area of administrative dietetic practice--menu planning. Five basic competencies, with sub-competencies, in menu planning were drawn from previous research. To produce descriptive statements for each sub-competency, taped interviews were held with twenty practitioners to ascertain knowledge, attitudes, and skills required in menu planning. The original 607 responses were reduced to ninety-two by eliminating duplication and ranking them by importance. These were then expressed in appropriate behavioral terminology and validated by an educational consultant. The competency statements and sub-competencies with the ninety-two descriptors were incorporated into a questionnaire submitted to a nationwide sample of hospital administrative and generalist dietitians for further validation.