Apa itu Dietetik? Dietetics & Dietitian: Is it an alien???

Knock knock knock.....

Assalammualaikum....

MsPurgreeple a.k.a MsDietitian hereeeee..

What???
Dietetics course????
Dietitian???

Those are the the first impression and popular question asking by others when they asked me, "what are you studying now in university?" It is something weird to them with the term of "dietetics" and "dietitian". But it's okay. Never mind. At least, when I expose to them with these term, they will know it and not see us like an alien anymore. So indirectly it will help to make these term "dietetics" and "dietitian" well known and spread to others. Insyaallah.

Okay let me explain a little about dietetics and dietitian.

Actually both are the same but the difference is dietetics is a type of course study in order to be a Dietitian. While a Dietitian is a professional job.

                                         

Dietetics is a field of study about knowledge concerned with diet and its effects on health, especially with the practical application of a scientific understanding of nutrition. In which, dietetics study about how to prevent, treat and control the disease/illness via foods. It is very interesting when you learn about foods & health at the same time. It is awesome. This course take about 4 years for Bachelor Degree (Ijazah Sarjana Muda). So during 4 years of study, you will learn about basic anatomy, human physiology, biochemistry, clinical biochemistry, instrumentation, nutrition immunology, microbiology, pharmacology, biostatistics, developmental psychology, counselling, communication skills, food analysis, food service, medical nutritional therapy, metabolism and nutrition and etc. You'll also do a dietetic research and community services. You'll also will go for 2 semester internship as a dietitian at selected hospital. So during the internship, you'll apply all the knowledge that you've learnt. In Malaysia, there are several universities that offer this course, such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (pioneer in Malaysia), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara Malaysia (UiTM) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UnisZA)for IPTA. You can further your study at IPTS  at International Medical University. For those who would like to further your Master in Dietetics, you may go to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. As far as I know, the UKM is the only one university that offer Master in Dietetics in Malaysia.

Okay let me briefly explain about dietitian.

Dietitian or in a simple term, is called as "Doktor Makanan" and this might be due to Dietitian wear white coat just same as medical doctor but the differ is Dietitian expert in foods.. Dietitian is a professional trained in translating science of food, nutrition and medical nutrition therapy to meet needs of individual or target groups, whether in disease or health. Dietitian is equipped with the knowledge and skills to perform nutritional assessment and diagnosis; prescribe nutritional therapy; monitor, evaluate and document the nutrition care of individuals and groups that require diet intervention and rehabilitation, provide dietary counselling and nutrition education to individuals and caregivers for the management of diseases/illness, in both acute and chronic area. Besides, dietitian also play role in promoting wellness in community.

In Malaysia, this professional job as a Dietitian is not so well known among others compared to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapist and other healthcare job.  But trust me, this job is currently in rising demand as people concern about health nowadays. So whatever we are, we're play important role in this multidisciplinary in healthcare on going to bring better healthcare services to public.

You may go to this link in order to get more details
Malaysian Dietitian's Association at http://www.dietitians.org.my/about-dietitian/who-is-a-dietitian

SayangiDiriAndaSetiapHari <3