Objective: This study aimed to: 1) describe the current state of research activity/involvement and capacity among selected tertiary level government and private hospital dietitians; 2) identify factors associated with research capacity and involvement; and 3) develop policy recommendations to improve the current research activity/involvement towards evidence-based practice among hospital dietitians.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. A total of randomly selected 181 hospital dietitians from selected hospitals in Metro Manila completed a pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire, which elicited the socio-demographic characteristics, research activity/involvement, research capacity, perception, attitude and knowledge (PAK) of the respondents.

Descriptive statistics were generated. Pearson Correlation was determined between socio-demographic characteristics and research activity/involvement score and research capacity score. Linear multiple regression analysis was conducted to test whether perceptions, attitudes and knowledge score are factors that predicted research activity/involvement and research capacity.

Results: No significant difference was observed in hospital dietitians' research capacity scores based on gender, age, educational attainment, hospital affiliation, and job description. Majority (97%) of the hospital dietitians had very little participation (10%) or involvement in any type of research activity/involvement. The significant factors that were predictive of research activity/involvement scores and research capacity scores were percent of time for research and hours per week devoted to research, respectively. Percent of time for research was significantly predictive of research knowledge of respondents.

Conclusion: The findings in this present study showed the research activity/involvement and capacity of hospital dietitians in Metro Manila were dismally low. The significant factors that were predictive of research activity/involvement scores and research capacity scores were percent of time for research and hours per week devoted to research, respectively. To support the development of research capacity and involvement of hospital dietitians, policy-makers and healthcare organizations can optimize capability-building strategies at the academic level, hospital dietitian level, and institutional level.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the extent to which implementation of student participation programs in serving school meals impacts student perception and satisfaction with school foodservice in middle and high school settings. METHODS: Students' perception of management and satisfaction with quality attributes of school foodservice were assessed by questionnaire methods and compared by the program implementation status of student participation in serving school meals. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors affecting perception and satisfaction. RESULTS: The overall mean score for perception regarding the management of school foodservice was low (3.53 out of 10 points) and middle school students showed a higher mean score than high school students (4.10 vs. 2.94 points). In both middle and high schools, student perception was significantly higher in schools implementing the program. The average score for student satisfaction with the quality of school foodservice was 3.50 out of 5 points. Similarly, we observed a significantly higher satisfaction among middle versus high school students (3.93 vs. 3.04 points) and in schools implementing the program versus those that were not. Overall, student participation in serving school meals resulted in increases in satisfaction with school foodservice of 0.269 and 0.466 points among middle and high school students, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of student participation in serving school meals could be used as a strategy to improve perception and satisfaction of students with their school foodservice. Establishment of guidelines of student serving participation programs encompassing different perspectives from students, dietitians and school faculties are warranted.
Humans ; Meals ; Nutritionists

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the extent to which implementation of student participation programs in serving school meals impacts student perception and satisfaction with school foodservice in middle and high school settings. METHODS: Students' perception of management and satisfaction with quality attributes of school foodservice were assessed by questionnaire methods and compared by the program implementation status of student participation in serving school meals. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors affecting perception and satisfaction. RESULTS: The overall mean score for perception regarding the management of school foodservice was low (3.53 out of 10 points) and middle school students showed a higher mean score than high school students (4.10 vs. 2.94 points). In both middle and high schools, student perception was significantly higher in schools implementing the program. The average score for student satisfaction with the quality of school foodservice was 3.50 out of 5 points. Similarly, we observed a significantly higher satisfaction among middle versus high school students (3.93 vs. 3.04 points) and in schools implementing the program versus those that were not. Overall, student participation in serving school meals resulted in increases in satisfaction with school foodservice of 0.269 and 0.466 points among middle and high school students, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of student participation in serving school meals could be used as a strategy to improve perception and satisfaction of students with their school foodservice. Establishment of guidelines of student serving participation programs encompassing different perspectives from students, dietitians and school faculties are warranted.
Humans ; Meals ; Nutritionists

Background and Objective: The Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is a systematic method used by dietitians to provide high-quality nutrition care resulting in good patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the NCP implementation and use of NCP Terminologies (NCPT) among hospital dietitians in the Philippines. Specifically, the study aimed at assessing the knowledge, perception, and practices on NCP and use of NCPT and correlate them with the dietitians' education, and professional and employment profile; and explain the barriers and facilitators of the practice of NCP and use of NCPT among hospital dietitians in the Philippines. Methods: The knowledge, perception, and practices (KPP) on NCP and NCPT of the dietitians employed in the Philippine Department of Health’s licensed level 3 hospitals were determined using a validated questionnaire. Significant factors associated with the KPP were also determined. The barriers and facilitators of the practice of NCP and NCPT were determined using focus group discussion and key informant interviews of chief clinical dietitians and hospital administrators, respectively. Results: The study revealed that majority of the participants had a high level of knowledge on NCP and NCPT, positively perceived its implementation, and more than half of them implement NCP and NCPT in the hospitals. The participants’ knowledge on NCP and NCPT was significantly associated with research involvement and active membership in a professional organization. While the practice of NCP and NCPT was significantly associated with having NCP-related trainings, frequency of trainings, and active membership in a professional organization. The barriers to NCP implementation were insufficient resources; lack of orientation, trainings, and support; organizational and administrative constraints; pandemic constraints; insufficient time; and lack of confidence to conduct NCP. While the facilitators of implementation were collaboration, dedication, and commitment of the healthcare team; institutionalization of NCP laws and policies; budget allocation for NCP-related activities; monitoring and consistency of NCP implementation; and work schedule. Conclusion The findings suggest that the implementation of NCP and NCPT in the Philippines needs further support from the institution, professional organizations, and policy makers by developing strategies to cope with the barriers, and strengthen the facilitators and factors associated with practice.
Nutritionists ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was conducted as a part of project developing the standards of the national board test for dietitian's licences. The purpose of this study was to define the job specification for dietitian's job description based on the knowledge, skill, attitude and related to the curriculum. The study team established the research team which composed of 11 person(7 professor in the university and 4 dietitians in hospitals, schools and private firms). The job description composed of 17 duties, 99 tasks and 576 task elements. For each element, the job specifications are written, which composed of introduction, process, required equipments, and required ability. Required ability included knowledge, skill and attitudes. The relations of the knowledge, skill and attitudes with the possible curriculum currently operated in the college or university were analyzed, also. Job specifications for 576 task elements are analyzed and framed.
Curriculum ; Humans ; Job Description* ; Nutritionists

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of job stress on job satisfaction according to interpersonal relationship type among school dieticians and nutrition teachers. The online survey was conducted from Oct. 26th to Nov. 7th, 2017 in 2,000 randomly selected dieticians and nutrition teachers in the capital area. A total of 453 collected questionnaires were used for analysis. SPSS v.21.0 Statistical Package Program was used for the statistical process. For the results regarding interpersonal relationship type of dieticians, open-type (73.3%) was the highest, followed by self-assertive-type (23.0%), isolated-type (2.6%), and careful-type (1.1%). Regarding overall job satisfaction, ‘human relation’ was the highest, followed by ‘job itself’, ‘working environment’, and ‘personal rating & welfare system’, in that order. According to interpersonal relationship type, in the case of ‘open-type’ or ‘careful-type’, job satisfaction was relatively high. Regarding overall job stress, ‘job demand’ was the highest, followed by ‘lack of reward’, ‘organizational system’, ‘interpersonal conflict’, ‘occupational climate’, ‘job insecurity’, and ‘insufficient job control’, in that order. In accordance with interpersonal relationship type, overall job stress index was high in terms of ‘self-assertive-type’ or ‘careful-type’. For the results of analyzing the correlation between job satisfaction and job stress index, all areas showed statistically significant negative correlations. Multiple regression analysis was performed to study the effects of job stress on job satisfaction mediating interpersonal relationship type. Job stress had different effects on job satisfaction in terms of ‘open-type’ and ‘self-assertive type’. In conclusion, different strategies are needed for dieticians with different interpersonal relationship types to improve job satisfaction and to reduce job stress.
Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Negotiating ; Nutritionists

Community nutritionists draw upon theories from the social sciences to improve their work in health promotion and disease prevention. Social science theories are sets of concepts that provide systematic explanations that can predict events or situations, and are classified into several paradigms and worldviews. these theories interact with research and practice around the subject matter of community nutrition. Use of these theories provides benefits in community nutrition by helping to organize thinking about nutrition topics in ways that are useful for assessing, understanding, intervening, and evaluation community nutrition issues. Community nutrition researchers and practitioners can be choose from many available social science theories by evaluating assumptions, scope, applicability, complexity, effectiveness, and other aspects of the theories. Awareness and use of social science theories should enhance the development of community nutrition.
Health Promotion ; Nutritionists ; Social Sciences* ; Thinking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not there is a relationship between doctor's awareness of clinical nutrition service and needs for a clinical dietitian. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The research was carried out by using questionnaires that had been specifically designed for the study. The research was conducted from September to October, 2013 for 311 doctors at 43 hospitals (with over 400 beds). Frequency analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and bootstrapping analysis were conducted using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: ‘Implementation of clinical nutritional service’ (p < 0.001) and ‘usefulness on clinical nutrition service’ (p < 0.001) were found to be correlated with ‘importance of clinical nutrition service’ as an independent variable. The correlation between ‘importance of clinical nutrition service’ as a mediating variable and ‘needs for clinical dietitian’ as a dependent variable was also confirmed (p < 0.001). The results of the bootstrapping test showed that the mediating effect of ‘importance of clinical nutrition service’ was significant. The indirect effect value between ‘implementation of clinical nutrition service’ and ‘needs for clinical dietitian’ was 0.040, indirect effect value between ‘usefulness on clinical nutrition service’ and ‘needs for clinical dietitian’ was 0.095. CONCLUSION: The frequency of providing clinical nutritional services, the quality of clinical nutritional services, and the degree of implementation of clinical nutritional services were found to be important for positive perception of clinical nutrition services by doctors. Therefore, proper provision of clinical nutrition services and effective therapeutic effects will be continuously highlighted, which will increase the awareness of the physician and ultimately increase the demand for clinical nutrition service.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Negotiating* ; Nutritionists* ; Therapeutic Uses

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for practical HACCP training. A survey was conducted and analysed on 46 contract foodservices: 13 "Appointed" foodservices (appointed by Korean Food & Drug Administration), 17 "Voluntary Applying" foodservices (voluntarily applied HACCP, but not appointed), 16 "Non-applying" foodservices (not applied HACCP). Hygiene knowledge and recognition on job performance levels for HACCP application for 46 dieticians and 361 employees were surveyed. According to the survey, 61.5% of the "Appointed" dieticians took HACCP training from outside the company, 58.8% of "Voluntary Applying" dieticians took in-house HACCP training, and 62.4% of "Non-applying" dieticians have not taken any HACCP training. As for the comparison of hygiene knowledge, total mean of employees (6.38) showed significantly lower average than that of the dieticians (7.82) (p<0.001). From the result for recognition on job performance levels, total mean of dieticians (3.91) indicated generally good performance while employees (3.41) (p<0.001) showed considerably lower recognition. Hygiene knowledge and recognition on job performance levels of both dieticians and employees showed considerably close correlation (p<0.01 or p<0.05).
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points* ; Hygiene* ; Nutritionists*

The objectives of this study were to assess the current practices of implementing selective menus and to identify the perception of foodservice manager and customer on selective menus for hospital foodservice would be fulfilled. Two types of questionnaires for hospital foodservice managers as well as customers were developed. Questionnaires were distributed to managers of 8 hospital foodservice department and 317 customers of patient meal service, and 6 managers and 139 customers were responded. The data were analyzed using frequency and t-test. The results of this study can be summarized as follows : 1. In hospital foodservice operations, the selective menu pattern was first introduced by L hospital on June 1994 in Seoul and recently 8 hospitals were currently implementing selective menus. But using rate of selective menus by patients were relatively low(23.2%), ranging from 15% to 32%. 2. Customers' needs for selective menus were rated significantly higher in the group of patients(4.24/5) who chose the selective menus than their counterpart(3.88/5). 3. The main reason not choosing selective menus was identified by patients as 'not knowing the implementation of selective menus'(52.6%), inconvenient factors in using selective menus for customer were also identified as orders : 'lack of nutrition information on menu item'(38.6%), 'complexity in procedure'(29.8%), and 'lack of menu variety'(26.3%). However managers considered 'managerial burden' and 'limited human resource' as main obstacle to implement the selective menu pattern. 4. Customers indicated 'variety of menu', 'active public relations' as effective methods to enhance using rate of selective menus, however, foodservice manager indicated 'variety of menu'(50%), 'improvement of quality'(16.7%), and 'simplicity in procedure'(16.7%). Based on the results of this study, following recommendations have been suggested : Managers in patient meal service should recognize customer needs for implementing selective menus and pay more attention in implementing selective menus and activating this program. For more effective implementation of activating selective menu program, the foodservice department should establish action plan on 'active publicity work', 'simplicity in procedures', 'variety of menu' and 'improvement of quality'. Especially nutrition informations on meals should be provided for customers in order to elevate participation rate.
Humans ; Meals ; Nutritionists* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul