Relationships among behavioral beliefs, past behaviors, attitudes and behavioral intentions toward healthy menu selection

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a serious concern worldwide, for which the restaurant industry holds partial responsibility. This study was conducted to estimate restaurant consumers' intention to select healthy menu items and to examine the relationships among behavioral beliefs, past behaviors, attitudes and behavioral intentions, which are known to be major determinants of consumer behaviors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: An online, self-administered survey was distributed for data collection. The study sample consisted of customers who reported having visited casual dining restaurants in the last three months at the time of the survey. Structural equation modeling was used to verify the fit of the proposed research model. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling revealed that the proposed model supports the sequential, mediated (indirect) relationships among behavioral beliefs, past behaviors, attitudes and behavioral intentions toward healthy menu selection. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the available literature regarding obesity by adding past behaviors, one of the most influential variables involved in prediction of future behaviors of consumers, to the TPB model, enabling a better understanding of restaurant consumers' rational decision process regarding healthy menu choices. The results of this study provide practical implications for restaurant practitioners and government agencies regarding ways to promote healthy menus.

Effect of Motivations and Attitudes toward Nutrition Information on College Students' Use Intentions of Menu Labeling at University Dining Services

A menu labeling initiative is a lawful regulation with an aim to promote public health by providing customers the right to make informed menu choices. As college years are a critical period in which students form dietary habits, which are sustained throughout their lives, provision of nutritional information at the university dining services is important to students' health and life. Due to the lack of research on menu labeling at university dining services, the purpose of this study was to examine college students' attitudes and motivations toward menu labeling at university dining services, as well as their use intentions toward nutrition information at university dining services. Data were collected from a self-administered survey distributed to 484 college students who had experienced university dining services. Motivations of university students toward menu labeling were categorized into ‘knowledge pursuit’ and ‘health pursuit’. Students' attitudes toward menu labeling had a positive effect on their intention to use menu labeling at university dining services. The findings of the study indicated that female students, or those who frequently used nutrition information, tended to have higher attitudes, motivations, and use intentions toward nutrition information. The study results suggest that facilitation of healthy eating environments at university dining services by offering nutrition information, and nutrition and health education is necessary.

Comparison of Required and Additional Man Power's Implemental Task Elements between Present and Future-oriented Duties of School Nutrition Teachers

The purpose of this study was to compare the task elements categorized into required and additional man power's implemental between present and future-oriented duties of school nutrition teachers. The survey consisted of five duties, 27 tasks, 93 task elements, and 270 work details in the task elements of school nutrition teachers. A pilot-test was first conducted on nutrition teachers to confirm the survey contents, and then a main survey was performed on 240 school nutrition teachers, using a self-administrated online method, from July 16 to September 5, 2016. To compare present and future-oriented tasks, frequency analyses were conducted. Work details in the task elements were categorized into ‘required’ and ‘additional man power's implemental’, depending on school nutrition teachers' responses, based on a 50% cut-off percentage. The results showed that 13 work details among 60 work details (21.7%) in the ‘Duty C. Safety and hygiene management of school foodservice’, and 15 work details out of 106 work details (14.2%) in ‘Duty B. Foodservice management practices’ were identified as additional man power's implemental in future oriented duties. As to ‘Duty A. Nutrition management’, only three work details among 55 work details (5.5%) were identified as additional man power's implemental. On the other hand, all work details in ‘Duty D. Nutrition·diet education and counseling and ‘Duty E. Reinforce professionalism’ were identified as “required” as school nutrition teachers' duties. These findings imply that school nutrition teachers perceive nutrition management and education as their primary duties to the fulfill school foodservice' mission of promoting students' health and fostering students' dietary behaviors. The study offers practical and governmental implications, which can encourage school nutrition teachers to perform their primary duties.

Midgut Volvulus in a 70-year-old Man Due to Intestinal Nonrotation / 대한소화기학회지

Intestinal malrotation is a congenital disorder that results from the failure of normal bowel rotation and fixation during the 5th gestational week. The incidence of intestinal malrotation is <0.2%, but prompt diagnosis is important because this anomaly can cause midgut volvulus and lead to fatalities. Compared to infants presenting with acute symptoms, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea, adult patients complain of intermittent self-limited abdominal pain. We present a case of intestinal malrotation complicated by midgut volvulus improved with conservative care in a 70-year-old man. The diagnosis was suggested on the basis of imaging findings.

Health-related Quality of Life and Related Factors in Full-time and Part-time Workers / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: There has been a rapid increase in the number of part-time workers in Korea with little information available on associated changes in quality of life. This study was designed to compare part-time and full-time workers in terms of the quality of life and related factors. METHODS: Data were extracted from the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted in 2008. Of the 1,284 participants selected, 942 were females (range, 20 to 64 years). Based on the information provided by self-administered questionnaire, subjects were categorized according to the working pattern (full-time and part-time) and working hours ( or =30 hours). Differences in socio-demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and job characteristics were assessed by t-test and chi-square test. EuroQol-five dimensions (EQ-5D) index was implemented in order to measure the quality of life. Differences in the EQ-5D index scores between the groups were compared by t-test, stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Quality of life did not differ by work patterns. In males, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development part-time group was associated with poorer quality of life (odds ratio [OR], 0.49; P = 0.028). For both sexes, the non-stress group was linked with superior quality of life in comparison to the stress group (OR, 2.64; P = 0.002; OR, 2.17; P < 0.001). Female employees engaged in non-manual labor had superior quality of life than those engaged in manual labor (OR, 1.40; P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that working less than 30 hours per week is related to lower quality of life in comparison to working 30 hours or more in male employees in Korea.

Suicidal Ideation of Patients in the Acute Stage of Stroke / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The presence of psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety disorders is considered to be the most important risk factor of suicide. Also, suicidal risk is known to be increased in patients who have serious medical illnesses. Like in patients with other medical illness, some authors reported that suicidal risk is increased in patients with stroke. But there have been no reports with Korean patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of suicidal ideation of patients in the acute stage of stroke, and to examine the demographic characteristics, and psychiatric and neurological symptoms between the patients with and without suicidal ideation. METHODS: Seventy seven hospitalized stroke patients at the Hallym Stroke Center from July of 1999 to June of 2000 were included in this study. Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale(BSIS) was used to evaluate suicidal ideation. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory(BAI) for depression and anxiety, and Social Support Scale(SSS) for social support system of the stroke patients were used. Neurologic disabilities were rated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) and Barthel's Index. RESULTS: Thirty five percent(N=27) of the stroke patients reported severe suicidal ideation. Scores of BDI, BAI and SSS were higher in the patients with severe suicidal ideation than their counterpart. There were no differences in Barthel's index score and NIHSS between two groups. Most patients with severe suicidal ideation had depressive or anxiety symptoms. But patients without depressive or anxiety symptoms also reported severe suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty five percent of stroke patients in acute stage of their illness have severe suicidal ideation that requires careful psychiatric evaluation and intervention. Inclusion of routine assessment of suicidal ideation in these patients is recommended.

Preliminary Findings of Guanfacine in Comorbid ADHD and Habit Disorder-Open Trial / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) and tic disorders are relatively common childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorders, and these two disorders frequently cooccur in some individual. Although the efficacy of psychostimulants is well established in ADHD, as many as 25% of children fail to respond to psychostimulant treatment due either to a lack of efficacy or to intolerable side effects including exacerbations of tics. Guanfacine, a selective alpha2A-adrenergic agonist, was recently introduced for the treatment of children with ADHD. This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of guanfacine in children with ADHD and comorbid habit disorders and to identify subgroups of children who may have a more favorable response to guanfacine. METHODS: Twenty five children who were 6 to 16 years old were enrolled in an open trial of guanfacine for two months. Primary outcome measures were DuPaul Parent and Teacher Rating Scales, Conners Parent and Teacher Rating Scales and Yale Global Tic Severity Scale. Paired t-test and multiple logistic regression were performed to evaluate symptom improvement and to examine predictor variables for positive drug response. RESULTS: Severity of ADHD symptoms and tics after guanfacine administration was significantly reduced at each follow-up point in the ratings completed by both parents and teachers and in clinical evaluation, compared to their pre-medication status. Children with moderate ADHD symptoms responded more favorably to guanfacine than children with mild or severe symptoms. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that guanfacine may be a safe and an effective medication for ADHD children who cannot benefit from psychostimulants, but more definitive research strategies are needed for future investigation.