• Title/Summary/Keyword: dietetics

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Personal digital assistants: Essential tools for preparing dietetics professionals to use new-generation information technology

  • Jang, Mi-Young;Song, Won-O.
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.42-45
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    • 2007
  • Rapid integration of information technology into health care systems has included the use of highly portable systems-in particular, personal digital assistants (PDAs). With their large built-in memories, fast processors, wireless connectivity, multimedia capacity, and large library of applications, PDAs have been widely adopted by physicians and nurses for patient tracking, disease management, medical references and drug information, enhancing quality of health care. Many health-related PDA applications are available to both dietetics professionals and clients. Dietetics professionals can effectively use PDAs for client tracking and support, accessing to hospital database or information, and providing better self-monitoring tools to clients. Internship programs for dietetics professionals should include training in the use of PDAs and their dietetics applications, so that new practitioners can stay abreast of this rapidly evolving technology. Several considerations to keep in mind in selecting a PDA and its applications are discussed.

The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Lifestyle Health Determinants Among Older Adults Living in the Mediterranean Region: The Multinational MEDIS Study (2005-2015)

  • Foscolou, Alexandra;Tyrovolas, Stefanos;Soulis, George;Mariolis, Anargiros;Piscopo, Suzanne;Valacchi, Giuseppe;Anastasiou, Foteini;Lionis, Christos;Zeimbekis, Akis;Tur, Josep-Antoni;Bountziouka, Vassiliki;Tyrovola, Dimitra;Gotsis, Efthimios;Metallinos, George;Matalas, Antonia-Leda;Polychronopoulos, Evangelos;Sidossis, Labros;Panagiotakos, Demosthenes B.
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.50 no.1
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 2017
  • Objectives: By the end of the 2000s, the economic situation in many European countries started to deteriorate, generating financial uncertainty, social insecurity and worse health status. The aim of the present study was to investigate how the recent financial crisis has affected the lifestyle health determinants and behaviours of older adults living in the Mediterranean islands. Methods: From 2005 to 2015, a population-based, multi-stage convenience sampling method was used to voluntarily enrol 2749 older adults (50% men) from 20 Mediterranean islands and the rural area of the Mani peninsula. Lifestyle status was evaluated as the cumulative score of four components (range, 0 to 6), that is, smoking habits, diet quality (MedDietScore), depression status (Geriatric Depression Scale) and physical activity. Results: Older Mediterranean people enrolled in the study from 2009 onwards showed social isolation and increased smoking, were more prone to depressive symptoms, and adopted less healthy dietary habits, as compared to their counterparts participating earlier in the study (p<0.05), irrespective of age, gender, several clinical characteristics, or socioeconomic status of the participants (an almost 50% adjusted increase in the lifestyle score from before 2009 to after 2009, p<0.001). Conclusions: A shift towards less healthy behaviours was noticeable after the economic crisis had commenced. Public health interventions should focus on older adults, particularly of lower socioeconomic levels, in order to effectively reduce the burden of cardiometabolic disease at the population level.

Evaluation of dietary quality of adolescents using Healthy Eating Index

  • Tek, Nilufer Acar;Yildiran, Hilal;Akbulut, Gamze;Bilici, Saniye;Koksal, Eda;Karadag, Makbule Gezmen;Sanher, Nevin
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.322-328
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    • 2011
  • The aim of this study was to use the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) to assess diet quality and determine the relationship between the HEI-2005 and the energy and nutrient intakes of adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,104 healthy adolescents, mean age of $15.8{\pm}1.24$ years. Dietary intake was measured with the 24-hour dietary recall method, and dietary quality was assessed by means of the HEI-2005. Diet quality scores ranged from 23.7 to 77.5. The mean score was found to be $51.5{\pm}9.07$ according to the HEI-2005. There were no differences according to gender, 42.8% had a poor diet and 57.2% had a diet that needs improvement. No subjects had a "good diet". Lower mean subgroup scores were found for whole grains, total vegetables, total fruits, dairy products, and meat and beans. Fruits and vegetables scores were significantly high in girls, whereas sodium, oil, and meat and beans scores were significantly high in boys. Total HEI-2005 scores were increasingly associated with parental education level when age and gender were adjusted. There was a negative correlation between HEI-2005 scores and age, total energy intake, and fat intake. Positive correlation was only observed in the HEI-2005 scores for protein and dietary fibre intakes. Consequently, the overall diet quality and nutritional habits of Turkish adolescents need modification and improvement. In the family, measures should be initiated by the government, including advertisements and campaigns.

A Survey on the Status of Hospital Dititians and their Job Analysis (한국 병원 영양사의 지위 및 업무내용에 관한 실태조사)

  • 옥혜운
    • Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.15-23
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    • 1980
  • Since the first dietitian was produced in Korean about 15 years ago the Korena Dietetic Association has grown up to have its 8,500 members as of March, 1979. This study was undertaken to survey the status of hospital dietitians and their bob analysis. current practices were learned and the problems identified mainly in such aspects as : 1. Do the hospitals have enough dietitians? 2.What is the administrative position of the dietetics in the hospital? 3. What is the salary level of the dietitians? 4. How professional are the dietitian's daily tasks? How appropriately are the jobs distributed among the dietary employees? and 5. Do the hospital dietetics have their own diet manuals to go by? The findings are : 1. The severly lacking number of dietitians are employed by the hospitals where one dietitian is responsible for the feeding and nutrition education of 171 in-patients on the average. 2. The administrative position of hospital dietetics appears to be low showing administrative position of hospital dietetics appears to be low showing only 45.7% of the sample hospitals recognize their dietetics as the independent department or section. 3. The starting salary of the 4-year college graduate dietitians is 151,450 won which is 89.23-87.26% of the average starting salary for the 4-year college graduates I 1979. The starting salary for the 4-year college graduates in 1979. the starting salary of the 2-year college graduate dietitians is 148,000 won which is 113.9% of the average standard salary for the 2-year college graduates in 1979. 4. The hospital dietitians spend most of their time doing clerical jobs rather than the jobs utilizing higher priority professional skills they ought to perform. the most obvious cause of the problem can be found in the lack of man power for the general clerical jobs in the dietetics which can be proven from the small number of dietary clerks hired by the sample hospitals not even one person (0.45) per hospital on the average. 5. 68.6% of the sample dietetics have some form of compiled diet manuals or guidelines. 11.4% of the samples have diet guide lines ready for the important diets only. 14.3% of the samples do not have any form of diet guideline prepared. 5.7% of the samples use reference diet manuals from other hospitals when need.

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Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Breast Cancer Survivors

  • Saibul, Nurfaizah;Shariff, Zalilah Mohd;Rahmat, Asmah;Sulaiman, Suhaina;Yaw, Yong Heng
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.8
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    • pp.4081-4086
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    • 2012
  • Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among individuals with cancer, especially breast cancer survivors. This study was conducted among 394 breast cancer survivors in selected regions of Peninsular Malaysia to identify the pattern and factors associated with CAM use. About 51% of the respondents reported CAM use as complementary treatment. Vitamins (47.2%), spiritual activities (33.2%) and other dietary supplements (30.7%) were the most commonly used CAM therapies. Common reasons for CAM use were to increase the body's ability to perform daily activities (70.9%), enhance immune function (58.3%) and improve emotional well-being (31.7%). Users obtained CAM information mainly from friends and family members (62.5%), physicians (25.0%) and mass media (13.9%). Ethnicity and years of education were significantly associated with CAM use. Although no adverse effects of CAM were reported, breast cancer survivors should discuss their CAM use with health professionals to prevent potential adverse effects of these therapies.

Nutrition Intervention in a Gastric Cancer Patient With Gastrectomy for 12 Months: A Case Report

  • So Young Youn;Bo Eun Kim;Eun Mee Kim
    • Clinical Nutrition Research
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    • v.12 no.1
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    • pp.1-6
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    • 2023
  • Gastrectomy is the most effective method of treating gastric cancer, but it is commonly associated with weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and the increased risk of malnutrition due to post-surgery complications, including gastric stasis, dumping syndrome, malabsorption, and maldigestion. Malnutrition is a risk factor for postoperative complications and poor prognosis. To prevent it and guarantee a quick recovery after surgery, continuous and individualized nutrition intervention should be performed both before surgery and postoperatively. The Department of Dietetics at Samsung Medical Center (SMC) performed nutritional status assessment before gastrectomy, initial nutritional assessment within 24 hours of admission, description of therapeutic diet after surgery, nutrition counselling before discharge, and nutritional status assessment and individual nutrition counselling after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months from surgery. This is a case report of a patient who underwent gastrectomy as well as intensive nutrition intervention in SMC.

The relationship between household income and dietary intakes of 1-10 year old urban Malaysian

  • Shariff, Zalilah Mohd;Lin, Khor Geok;Sariman, Sarina;Lee, Huang Soo;Siew, Chin Yit;Yusof, Barakatun Nisak Mohd;Mun, Chan Yoke;Mohamad, Maznorila
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.278-287
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    • 2015
  • BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diet plays an important role in growth and development of children. However, dietary intakes of children living in either rural or urban areas can be influenced by household income. This cross-sectional study examined energy, nutrient and food group intakes of 749 urban children (1-10 years old) by household income status. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Children's dietary intakes were obtained using food recall and record for two days. Diet adequacy was assessed based on recommended intakes of energy and nutrients and food group servings. RESULTS: For toddlers, all nutrients except dietary fiber (5.5 g) exceeded recommended intakes. Among older children (preschoolers and school children), calcium (548 mg, 435 mg) and dietary fiber (7.4 g, 9.4 g) did not meet recommendations while percentage of energy from total fat and saturated fats exceeded 30% and 10%, respectively. The mean sodium intakes of preschoolers (1,684 mg) and school children (2,000 mg) were relatively high. Toddlers in all income groups had similar energy and nutrient intakes and percentages meeting the recommended intakes. However, low income older children had lowest intakes of energy (P < 0.05) and most nutrients (P < 0.05) and highest proportions that did not meet recommended energy and nutrient intakes. For all food groups, except milk and dairy products, all age groups had mean intakes below the recommended servings. Compared to middle and high income groups, low income preschoolers had the lowest mean intake of fruits (0.07 serving), meat/poultry (0.78 serving) and milk/dairy products (1.14 serving) while low income toddlers and school children had the least mean intake of fruits (0.09 serving) and milk/dairy products (0.54 serving), respectively. CONCLUSION: Low socioeconomic status, as indicated by low household income, could limit access to adequate diets, particularly for older children. Parents and caregivers may need dietary guidance to ensure adequate quantity and quality of home food supply and foster healthy eating habits in children.

Association between Trace Element and Heavy Metal Levels in Hair and Nail with Prostate Cancer

  • Karimi, Golgis;Shahar, Suzana;Homayouni, Nasim;Rajikan, Roslee;Bakar, Nor Faizah Abu;Othman, Mohd Sham
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.9
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    • pp.4249-4253
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    • 2012
  • While associations between trace elements and heavy metals with prostate cancer are still debatable, they have been considered as risk factors for prostate cancer. Thus, this study aimed to detect any links between selected minerals and heavy metals including Se, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe with prostate cancer. A case control study was carried out among 100 subjects (case n=50, control n=50), matched for age and ethnicity. Trace elements and heavy metals level in hair and nail samples were determined by ICP-MS. Mean selenium levels in hair and nail of the cases were significantly lower as compared to controls. A similar trend was noted for zinc in both hair and nail samples, whereas the mean level of copper was significantly higher in cases than controls. Similar elevation was noted for iron and manganese (p<0.05 for all parameters). Low levels of selenium and zinc and high levels of copper, iron and manganese appear to be associated with the risk of prostate cancer. Further studies to elucidate the causal mechanisms and appropriate chemopreventive measures are needed.