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

ABSTRACT

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.