Framework to determine the staffing needs of dietitians at central and tertiary public hospitals

This PhD study was aimed at developing a staffing norm framework for dietitians based at South Africa`s central and tertiary public hospitals. All data for the study was collected through online surveys via the UP Qualtrics platform. The study was based on the WHO Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) and as a result this methodology led to the development of a framework specifically for the central and tertiary hospital setting. Data emanating from a Delphi consensus exercise with head dietitians at central and tertiary hospitals provided a standardised set of workload components and activity standards covering health, support, and individual activities of dietitians. A case study conducted at 21 central and tertiary public hospitals using this standard set of workload components and activity standards provided much needed data on the workloads and work pressures of dietitians.