Analysis of Information Structure and Contents on the Web Sites for Catering Services

This study examined the structure and contents of the information provided by the web sites, in terms of clarity, business goal, authority, sustainment of operation and responsibility of customer care, as well as menus. The findings from the analysis of 217 web sites selected from 5 major portal sites, are 1) most of catering business over internet are located around Seoul area, 2) almost 80% of the selected sites are administered by professional agents or firms while the remnants by individuals, 3) except menu and price, any additional information is hardly shown, 4) about three quarter of the sites opened after 2001, that is coherent with the trend of the growth of internet users and eating-out, 5) it is strongly required to create healthful cyber space for the customers, 6) a small number of the sites(12.4%) try to manage access from customers, 7) many sites(73.7%) open the channels for feedback from the customers 8) among the types of catering services offered by the sites, home party is the most popular and the kinds of cuisine, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese, are divided into almost same proportion of the sites, 9) the average number of dishes is 33.5, 10) they offer 7 to 8 different dishes of grain, 4 to 6 of meat, 4 to 10 of fishes, 5 to 13 of vegetables, 1 of fruits, and 1 to 3 of dairy products, 11) The majority of price level is 15,001won ~ 20,000won.

Changes in Blood Pressures, Blood Profiles and Physical Conditions among Adults in the Daejeon Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The body mass index, blood pressures and blood profiles of adults, who worked at three colleges in the Daejeon area, were evaluated for use in developing well-balanced menus at their workplace cafeterias and/or in creating nutrition education programs tailored to their health statuses. The data analyzed were from physical examinations performed in 2002 and in 2004 by the National Health Insurance Corporation. Overall, levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol were lower in the 2004 samples than in those of 2002, but most samples in 2004 showed higher levels of SGOT. In 2002, statistical differences occured in the levels of blood pressure and serum cholesterol among age groups, but not in 2004. And in 2004, the older the age group, the higher the BMI. Among subjects in their twenties, three variables (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and serum cholesterol) showed statistical differences; this increased to four variables (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose and serum cholesterol) among subjects in their thirties and to six variables (Hb, SGOT, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose and serum cholesterol) among those in their forties, followed by a decline to four variables (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, Hb and serum cholesterol) among subjects in their fifties. In general, the results of physical examinations showed improvements in blood pressure and blood profiles in 2004 in comparison with results in 2002. The level of SGOT was the exception. Despite these improvements, of those employees who had physical examinations in 2004, 5.2% had high blood glucose and 18.1% hypertension, 27.9% hypercholesterolemia, 8.3% registered abnormal liver functions, and 31.3% were classified as overweight and obese. Moreover, because some vulnerable blood profiles were found in the older age groups, various programs, including nutrition education, and/or development of healthful diets as well as excercise activities, may be needed within their workplaces.

Monitoring of On-Line Nutrition Information-Analysis of Meta Data

This study was conducted to analyze how appropriate the on-line nutrition information was externally as a web information. Four-hundred-ninety-seven web sites from 5 internet search engines (Yahoo, Empas, Nate, Hanmir, Naver) were selected on the basis of April 25th, 2004. The skillful personnels monitored them about 8 evaluating categories: clarity, purpose, authority, durability, advertisement, privacy and/or security, responsibility, and contents. Forty percent of the selected web sites were operated by the companies which had commercial purpose like internet shopping malls and 5.6% by academies, societies, research institutions, schools/colleges and public institutions. Most of web sites (76.1%) were managed for advertisements and sales of companies' commodities, and 32.6% had the food and nutrition information as first purpose. Ninety-three percent of web sites were targeted to healthy individuals through whole life cycle. Specifically, there were lots of web sites for the obesity which were offered by diet related companies. Of the 497 web sites, 193 mentioned the name providing the nutrition information, but only 1/3 had reliability on their specialty. As a source of nutrition information, 52.7% of web sites were using 'books of the major field' and 42.0% 'newspapers' and 23.7% 'broadcasting', respectively. Most web sites mentioned 'setting-up date' but not 'renewal date'. Thirty-six percent of web sites took '2 - 3 days' for the operators to answer the questions through the bulletin. Forty-seven percent of web sites answered '1 - 10 questions' per 1 week, but 40.1% of them didn't answer for a week at all. There were 118 web sites (23.7%) to record the connected frequencies and 36.0% of them put the advertisements. Around 96% of web sites mentioned feedback addresses. Among the menus of web sites, 68.0% were about self-advertisement and 64.0% about nutrition information. Each web site was scored to judge its external quality according to the operators by selecting 13 items. Web sites managed by public institution had highest scores (9.5), and lowest in private vendors', food companies' and individual web pages. Among search engines, Naver got the highest score of 7.0 and Nate the lowest one of 6.1. As it was only the pilot study, there were several limits in evaluating tools, time and monitored quantity. To make monitoring of on-line nutrition informations actively, standardized monitoring forms might be developed under the integrated studies.

Analysis of Contents of nutrition information on the Internet

232 internet sites in Yahoo and Empas were monitored to analyze what good contents of nutrition information on line have for the internet searchers. As the sites on line were disappeared frequently, all the monitored sites were selected on April 25, 2003. 3 disciplined personnels analyzed the contents of the selected sites by using self-developed monitoring format. The results are as follows. Most of sites were administered by the marketing companies and only 8% by public institutions, associations and school. Especially, most of the contents of the sites by marketing companies were advertisement about their goods instead of nutrition information. Only 42.6% of sites indicated the sources of nutrition information. Only 10.3% of site administrators responded about on-line questions quickly within 1 day. Moreover, 46% of sites were not conformed their answering periods. On the other hand, 94.8% of sites offered more than 1 feedback methods. Monitors checked purposes offering on-line informations plurally. Leading purpose was for advertising and marketing their goods(59.5%) and 47% of them were opened for offering food and nutrition information. They offered various informations at the same time. More than half of the sites had the menus for food and nutrition information and connected sites, but the other half of them only advertised their own goods. Positive sides from monitored informations were as follows : 'communicating informations easily' (8.7%) / 'definite informations for daily living' (7.2%) / 'beneficial informations for nutritional management' (4.6%) / 'new informations' (2.1%). Negative sides of offered information were 'not enough to give scientific basis and/or to simplify special evidences too much'(60.8%) / 'to exaggerate the contents' (41.4%) / 'not to indicate the notice of side effect and/or to advertise that there are not side effect from using their goods' (34.1%).

Analysis of Contents of nutrition information on the Internet

232 internet sites in Yahoo and Empas were monitored to analyze what good contents of nutrition information on line have for the internet searchers. As the sites on line were disappeared frequently, all the monitored sites were selected on April 25, 2003. 3 disciplined personnels analyzed the contents of the selected sites by using self-developed monitoring format. The results are as follows. Most of sites were administered by the marketing companies and only 8% by public institutions, associations and school. Especially, most of the contents of the sites by marketing companies were advertisement about their goods instead of nutrition information. Only 42.6% of sites indicated the sources of nutrition information. Only 10.3% of site administrators responded about on-line questions quickly within 1 day. Moreover, 46% of sites were not conformed their answering periods. On the other hand, 94.8% of sites offered more than 1 feedback methods. Monitors checked purposes offering on-line informations plurally. Leading purpose was for advertising and marketing their goods(59.5%) and 47% of them were opened for offering food and nutrition information. They offered various informations at the same time. More than half of the sites had the menus for food and nutrition information and connected sites, but the other half of them only advertised their own goods. Positive sides from monitored informations were as follows : 'communicating informations easily' (8.7%) / 'definite informations for daily living' (7.2%) / 'beneficial informations for nutritional management' (4.6%) / 'new informations' (2.1%). Negative sides of offered information were 'not enough to give scientific basis and/or to simplify special evidences too much'(60.8%) / 'to exaggerate the contents' (41.4%) / 'not to indicate the notice of side effect and/or to advertise that there are not side effect from using their goods' (34.1%).