EDUCATION, SATISFACTION AND PROFESSIONAL PROSPECTS OF NUTRITION GRADUATES OF A FEDERAL UNIVERSITY IN THE BRAZILIAN NORTHEAST

• Main Authors: Joana Carla Nunes de Souza, Andhressa Araújo Fagundes, Danielle Góes da Silva, Kiriaque Barra Ferreira Barbosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Josely Correa Koury 2018-05-01
• Series: Demetra
• Subjects: formação profissional. condições de trabalho. educação superior. nutrição. área de atuação profissional.
• Online Access: https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/index.php/demetra/article/view/28602

Objectives: To identify the degree of satisfaction of Nutrition graduates with their program and their profession. Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive research with a quantitative approach, whose data collection was based on the application of an online questionnaire. Categorical data were presented as absolute and relative frequencies; and the continuums, as average and standard deviation. Results and discussion: 57.3% (n = 129) of the total of graduates participated in the study since the opening of the course (2007). The field of Nutrition most cited by the graduates was Clinical Nutrition (41.9%), and 29.2% worked in their preferredfield, with 41.5% of them in Clinical Nutrition. Only 3.1% dropped out; 29.1% reported having an employment relationship with the private sector; 71.7% work in the same Brazilian state where they received their degree and 60.2% are dissatisfied with their wages. The course was evaluated positively, as was teachers’qualification. As regards professional prospects, the interviewees expressed an interest in becoming teachersthemselvesand improving their knowledge with postgraduate studies. Conclusions:This studyoffered insightsinto the difficulties faced bythe graduates regarding the academic programand the profession, such as the need for more practical classes and low pay and excessive work hours. Such awareness could guide future actions and ensurethe quality of the undergraduate program. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2018.28602