Nutrition Education for Female Immigrants in Multicultural Families Using a Multicultural Approach: In-depth Interviews with Female Immigrants and Nutrition Education Professionals

The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary behaviors and nutritional knowledge among immigrant women in multicultural families. In addition, this study reveals a necessity for nutrition education, which is apparent to both immigrant women living in multicultural families as well as nutrition education experts. The survey was conducted with 30 immigrant women within multicultural families in Seoul. The dietary behaviors of the women were significantly different by their period of residence. The longer they had resided in Korea, the higher their dietary behavior score. However, there was no significant difference in nutrition knowledge by their period of residence. This study also conducted in-depth personal interviews with 8 immigrant women who lived in Seoul, and with 4 nutrition education experts. These interviews were performed to provide profound insights regarding the content and means of nutrition education for immigrant women. Nutrition education for immigrant women living in multicultural families should proceed at a basic level in terms of language and content, using bilingual (Korean and their native language) education materials. Education topics and content need to be developed differently according to the level of Korean comprehension and period of residence in Korea. Also, this multicultural approach should be adapted when planning nutrition education since immigrant women have various acculturation levels, and the content and means of education should be adjusted to these acculturation levels. Management after nutrition education is necessary for immigrant women who do not have sufficient understanding of the Korean language. Practical educational methods such as real cooking practices and food purchasing simulations must be developed. Finally, the results suggest that the government needs to establish a systematic plan for nutrition education among immigrant women living in multicultural families. Policy support such as training nutrition educators on multicultural individuals residing in Korea is necessary for active and effective nutritional education.

School Dietitians' Perceptions of Potentially Hazardous Food and Inspection of Food Safety and Sanitation

The purpose of this study was to identify school dieticians' perceptions on the Potentially Hazardous Food (PHF) and the inspection of food safety and sanitation conducted by Provincial Office of Education. Questionnaires were distributed to 400 school dieticians in elementary schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, and 217 responses were collected. The majority of respondents (64%) defined PHF as food that easily decays at room temperature and over half of the respondents considered Korean cooked vegetables as a PHF. In addition, 4% of respondents completely excluded PHFs from their menus. Forty five percent of the respondents selected CCP rule 7 (delivery and distribution process) and 34% selected CCP rule 6 as the most difficult of the CCP rules to follow. Also, perceptions concerning food safety inspection and sanitation were not high in terms of validity, objectivity, and reliability among the evaluation criteria. The study results suggest that PHF as well as Potentially Hazardous Menu (PHM) definitions and guidelines should be re-established in consideration of traditional Korean food culture and the preparation of Korean foods.

Dietitian's Perception and Purchasing Pattern of Fruits in School Lunch Menu: Focus on Apples and Pears

The purpose of this study was to identify dietitians' perception and purchasing pattern of fruits in elementary school lunch program. This study was conducted using mail survey from September 15 to October 30, 2006. Survey questionnaire was developed based on in-depth interview with three school food service dietitians. A total of 100 school food service dietitians in Seoul were participated. Based on the frequency analysis results, over half of respondents(69%) provides fruits every week, and 23% of respondents provides them twice a week. Strawberry, watermelon, apple, and mandarin were identified as the most frequently served fruits in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, respectively. Sixty two percent of respondents indicated they offered imported fruits, such as banana and pineapple, less than 10% of total fruits. Ninety three percent of respondents selected private contract when they purchase fruits, and forty four percent of dietitians decided fruits purchasing procedure by themselves. Respondents addressed "Apples and Pears were appropriate for a dessert." and "Apples and Pears supply nutrition such as calorie and vitamin." as the advantages of offering apples and pears in school lunch menu. They also indicated difficulty in preparation work and many leftovers as the disadvantages of offering apples and pears. When purchasing apples and pears, dietitians considered taste as the first criteria and price as the second. Respondents perceived that elementary school students preferred apples and pears in a neutral level. Respondents also had higher preference for an-sim apples which can be eaten without peeling for school lunch menu and higher intentions to provide in school lunch menu. The survey results also found that respondents' intention to offer apples in school lunch menu was higher than intentions to offer pears. The implications to increase the chance of fruits offering in school lunch menu were discussed.

Comparison Analysis of School Foodservice Dietitians' Job Satisfaction, Work Value, and Turnover Intention Based on the Expectation to be a Nutrition Teacher / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to identify the difference of school food service dietitians' work value, job satisfaction, and turnover intention based on their expectation to be a nutrition teacher. Also, this study explored the differences in expectation to be a nutrition teacher, work value, job satisfaction, turnover intention depending on demographics and school foodservice operational characteristics. This study surveyed dietitians who worked at school foodservice in Kyunggii and Daegu, Gyeoungbuk Province. A total of 509 responses were collected using on-site survey and online survey (59.3%). Dietitians expressed favorable work value (3.88+/-0.34) and mid level of a job satisfaction (2.99+/-0.64). The percentage of dietitians who had an intention to leave after the promulgation of a nutrition teacher system (13.2%) was lower than that of dietitians who had an intention to leave prior to it (23.2%). Most dietitians expected a salary rise (84.7%), more chance to teach nutrition education (76.0%), and the improvement of power not only as a teacher but as a dietitian (72.7%). Dietitians who had higher expectation levels to be a nutrition teacher (>3 on the 5 point Likert scale) showed a higher tendency of significant turnover intention (F=4.40, p<0.01) and more confident work value (F=15.292, p<0.001) when comparing those who had lower expectations. There were significant differences in work value, job satisfaction, turnover intention, and expectation to be a nutrition teacher depending on career length and employment status of dietitians. This study revealed that school food service dietitians have favorable expectations to be nutrition teachers with high work value.