Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of elementary school dietitians in terms of nutrition education in the northern portion of Gyeonggi province. Self-administered questionnaires were given to 50 dietitians who have worked in elementary schools with self-operation food service, and 35(70%) dietitians returned the questionnaires. The results are summarized as follows: no students took part in nutrition education as a regular course, but all dietitians performed nutrition education in passive ways, such as 'using home correspondence'(39.0%), 'bulletin board/poster'(22.0%), 'using the internet'(13.4%) and 'indirectly through a classroom teacher'(12.2%). Most respondents performed nutrition education 'one time/month'(66.0%) or 'one time/week'(20.0%). The respondents thought that suitable teaching times for nutrition education were 'during a related subject'(35.5%), 'during lunch time'(22.6%) rather than 'during an independent subject'(16.1%). Most of the dietitians(94.3%) did not perform nutrition counseling because of 'a lack of opportunity'(72.7%) and 'workload'(27.3%). Additionally 88.6% of respondents did not have the time of for nutrition counseling for parents because 'am not a teacher'(56.7%) and 'workload'(30,0%). Information sources for nutrition education were mainly 'internet'(71.4%) and 're-educationa1 materials'(17.1%). They possessed instructional materials in the forms of 'printed materials'(35.1 %), 'exhibition/bulletin board'(31.2%), and 'electrical materials'(33.8%), 'but did not have 'solid materials' such as food models and dolls. Generally they had mostly 'leaflets'(82.9%), 'bulletins'(68.6%), 'internet'(57.1%), and 'CDs'(57.1%). Preferences for instructional materials used were 'printed materials'(46.2%), 'exhibition/bulletin board'(36.5%), and 'electrical materials'(17.3%) 'Leaflets'(80.0%) were mainly used; 'CD'(17.1 %) use was low compared to the proportion possessing CDs. The topics frequently chosen by the subjects for nutrition education were 'table manners'(82.9%), 'basic concepts of food and nutrition'(80.0%), and 'proper food habits'(80.0%), but the topics helpful for practical use, such as 'how much do I eat'(20.0%) and 'nutrition labeling'(37.1%), were not included frequently. The respondents thought that 'eating only what they like'(60.0 %), 'intake of processed foods'(17.8%), and 'obesity'(17.8%) were the most common nutritional problems among elementary school children. They also thought that establishing a regular course for nutrition education was an effective way to cut down on these nutritional problems. In conclusion, nutrition education programs that are combined with effective instructional materials and practical topics should be developed. Additionally, it is recommended that dietitians act as teachers who participate in regular courses as soon as possible.
