• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.512-524
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the food allergy-related knowledge, awareness, and performance of dietitians at children's hospitals, depending on whether or not they have a clinical dietitian certificate. Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to 41 dieticians at children's hospitals registered as a part of the Korean Hospital Association. The survey consisted of questionnaires examining general characteristics, nutritional counseling-related characteristics, and food allergy-related characteristics (food allergy-related knowledge, awareness, and performance). We examined differences according to the status of clinical dietitian certification. Results: The proportion of subjects who were holders of clinical dietitian certificates was 48.8%. There were differences between holders of clinical dietitian certificates and non-holders as follows. Regarding nutritional awareness and performance, 'needs to provide nutrition counseling in children's hospitals', 'providing nutrition counseling services in working hospitals', and 'whether there is a nutrition counseling room' scored higher among holders of clinical dietitian certificates than non-holders. Holders of clinical dietitian certificates showed higher scores for knowledge of food allergy symptoms and food allergy management than non-holders. For food allergy awareness and performance, 'self-assessment of food allergy knowledge understanding level', 'awareness of open oral food challenge (OFC)', 'recognition of the need for education and counseling on food allergy for patients / guardians', and 'food allergy related educational experience' scored higher among holders of clinical dietitians certificates than in non-holders. Conclusions: Children's hospital dietitians with a clinical dietitian certificate showed high knowledge, awareness, and performance related to food allergies. It is thus necessary to employ a clinical dietitian for food allergy management in children's hospitals. In addition, training and conservative education are necessary for the management of food allergies for children's hospital dietitians.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of food allergies in Korean children aged 6 to 12 years increased from 10.9% in 1995 to 12.6% in 2012 according to nationwide population studies. Treatment for food allergies is avoidance of allergenic-related foods and epinephrine auto-injector (EPI) for accidental allergic reactions. This study compared knowledge and perception of food allergy labeling and dietary practices of students. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted with the fourth to sixth grade students from an elementary school in Yongin. A total of 437 response rate (95%) questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of food allergy among respondents was 19.7%, and the most common food allergy-related symptoms were urticaria, followed by itching, vomiting and nausea. Food allergens, other than 12 statutory food allergens, included cheese, cucumber, kiwi, melon, clam, green tea, walnut, grape, apricot and pineapple. Children with and without food allergy experience had a similar level of knowledge on food allergies. Children with food allergy experience thought that food allergy-related labeling on school menus was not clear or informative. CONCLUSION: To understand food allergies and prevent allergic reactions to school foodservice among children, schools must provide more concrete and customized food allergy education.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2015

A food allergy is described an adverse immunological reaction to a food item. It is increasingly common problem among infants, children, teenagers, and adults worldwide. This study examines food allergy knowledge, attitudes, practices, and health consciousness among college students studying food and nutrition and childhood education. A total of 235 food and nutrition and childhood education college students participated in the survey. According to the results, 41.3% of the respondents were aware of legal obligations associated labeling food items for food allergy; 14.0% were diagnosed with food allergy by their doctor; and 10.2% knew about food allergy symptoms. Food and nutrition students were more knowledgeable than childhood education students. The mean for food allergy attitudes was 4.22, and the score for food and nutrition students was higher than that for childhood education students. The mean for food allergy behaviors was 2.16, and the score of food and nutrition students was higher than that of childhood education students. The importance of food allergens was significantly higher than performance. These results suggest that, to improve the management of food allergies in foodservice operations, education programs regarding food allergies should be provided food and nutrition and childhood education students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.675-681
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate perception of the Food Allergy Labeling System (FALS) of school foodservice in female middle school students. The subjects were 148 female middle school students in the Incheon metropolitan area. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Only 20.9% of subjects had experience of food allergy education. There was no significant difference in food allergy knowledge by grade. The scores of perception of food allergy labeling by school foodservice were significantly higher in lower grade students (p<0.001). In all grades, highest scores were observed for 'food allergy labeling is necessary', whereas the lowest scores were for 'I check the food allergy labeling'. The percentages of subjects who wanted to participate in food allergy education were significantly different (p<0.01); 73.8% in 1st grade, 50.0% in 2nd grade, and 35.7% in 3rd grade. For desired education contents to enhance perception of FALS, 57.5% of subjects answered 'emergency management' and 23.0% said 'information of food allergy causing food'. Therefore, it is necessary to increase food allergy education and educate female middle school students according to grade in order to enhance perception of FALS.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.231-245
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the status of food allergy knowledge and management of the teachers and operators of child care facilities in the Daejeon Area. Surveys of 262 teachers and 50 operators of child care facilities in Dong-gu and Jung-gu in Daejeon were conducted. The prevalence of food allergies was found to be 3.6% (102 children). The average score of teachers in the anaphylaxis knowledge survey was $0.18{\pm}0.22$. Additionally, the needs for food allergy education among teachers and operators was 88.2% and 98%, respectively. The survey revealed that all child care facilities in this study provide food service menus to parents, but only 14 facilities (28%) provided alternative food to children with food allergies, and some of these 14 facilities did not provide adequate alternatives. To ensure the safety and healthy growth of children with food allergies, it is necessary to provide food allergy education to teachers and operators, as well as to establish safe food service and allergy management systems in all child care facilities.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.491-506
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• 2013

The allergenic food labeling system for 12 foods has been operated in Korean school food service since 2012. This study was conducted to evaluate the food allergy status of Korean elementary school children's and their parents' perceptions of allergenic food labeling system. The parents of school aged(6-9yr olds) children in Gyeongbuk area were recruited to assist in this survey. Surveys were conducted by 404 parents. The prevalence of food allergy was 18.1%(73 students) and about one-half of the food allergic children had a family history of allergies, in particular, maternal family history. The major symptoms were related to skin and the major allergenic foods were mackerel, eggs, milk, wheat, crab and tomatoes. The parents eliminated the allergenic food from diet of 43.8% of the children with food allergy. Participants had an average knowledge score of 68% correct. The average knowledge score was higher for parents with food allergic children than for parents with intact children(p<.05). Over 61% of the respondents were not satisfied with allergenic food labeling system operated in school food service. The requirements for the allergenic food labeling system were the front-of-package labeling, conspicuous description and insert of warning sign. The parents estimated that the most important effect of the allergenic food labeling system was the improvement of psychological and physical health in children with food allergy. Because the only prevention method for food allergy is the restriction of allergenic food, the institutional device to expand the food labeling to unpackaged food as well as packaged food and to make people trust the food labeling should be prepared.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.426-439
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to measure the food allergy (FA) awareness and management by the parents of preschool children. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with the parents of preschool children. The questionnaire was designed to identify the prevalence of food allergies, requirements of food allergy support and differences in food management according to the presence or absence allergic diseases, using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. After excluding incomplete responses, the data of 158 parents of preschool children (90.3%) was used for statistical analysis. Results: The rate of the preschool children who had experienced food allergy (FA, ever) was 38.6% while diagnosed for food allergy by doctor (Diagnosis of FA, ever) was 17.7%. Forty nine preschool children (80.3%) had food restriction, and twenty three of them (37.7%) had self-restriction without diagnosis. The consumption frequencies of allergenic foods in FA group, such as ramyeon, noodles, bread, eggs, yogurt and ice cream were significantly (p<0.001) lower than those of the other two groups. The major allergenic foods were eggs, milk, wheat and processed foods in FA group. The overall food allergy-related knowledge level of parents was insufficient. Only 26 parents (16.5%) had received training about food allergies. All parents wanted to receive food allergy-related supports. In addition, most of parents wanted information on substitute menu for children with food allergy. Conclusions: This study identified a lack of food allergy training for the parents of preschool children and the necessity for food allergy education. Food allergy-related supports, such as menus without allergenic ingredients, guidelines for managing food allergy & anaphylaxis emergency care plan etc, should be provided to the parents in order to avoid events related to food allergies.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.184-202
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigates the necessary educational materials from the perspective of caregivers managing food allergies of preschoolers. Methods: An online survey enrolled 400 caregivers of preschoolers with food allergies. The study was conducted in July 2022, and data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Results: The caregivers of preschoolers with food allergies showed low food allergy knowledge. The highest percentage of incorrect answers were for items related to the cause (74.2%) and response (65.2%) to food allergies. Moreover, categorizing the levels of knowledge as high, medium, and low, we found that caregivers with younger children exhibited a better understanding of food allergies. Approximately 56.9% of subjects in the high class were caregivers with preschoolers under three years, whereas caregivers with preschoolers over four years comprised 43.2% of the high-class subjects. Regarding food allergy treatment, four questions measured how well the caregivers tended to the children. With higher levels of knowledge, caregivers were more likely to read nutrient information and check for food allergens. The caregivers of preschoolers who were clinically diagnosed with food allergies demonstrated a higher percentage of using separate ingredients and cooking utensils. Conclusion: This study shows how the caregivers' knowledge levels are critical in managing and treating food allergies among preschoolers. With caregivers' lower knowledge of food allergies and preschoolers younger than four years, self-diagnosis of food allergies and existing food allergies were not managed efficiently. Hence, customized education for caregivers is essential to improve their knowledge level regarding limiting foods that may cause allergies, reading food labels, and using ingredients and cooking utensils separately.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1058-1064
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• 2015

This study aimed to evaluate the educational effects of an education program about food allergies in elementary school children. We conducted an education program consisting of eight classes for a total of 4,744 students at 100 elementary schools in Seoul and investigated changes in knowledge and awareness about food allergies in participants using a questionnaire. A total of 576 students (12.1%) reported that they have taken medical treatment because of a food allergy. After education, the knowledge score of participants significantly increased from 2.7 to 3.3 out of 5.0 (p<0.001). The ratio of having a friend with a food allergy decreased from 24.7% to 19.8% (p<0.001). The participants responding as having helped a friend with a food allergy significantly increased from 15.5% to 17.7% (p=0.003). Before education, 16.8% of respondents answered that they felt pity for friends with food allergies, whereas this percentage significantly decreased after education (p=0.034). Among 576 students with food allergies, 21.5% reported that they felt depressed due to their food allergies before education. However, the percentage significantly decreased after education (p<0.001). These results suggest that the education program about food allergies for elementary school students needs to be extended more widely to children.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.300-312
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated knowledge of atopic dermatitis and food allergies, as well as health information literacy, among North Korean refugee mothers with preschool-age children and explored how these variables were related to participants' characteristics. Methods: A descriptive study design was used. Data from 130 North Korean refugee mothers were collected between January and March 2023. Results: The mean scores were 14.48 of 30 for atopic dermatitis knowledge; 2.77 of 10 for food allergy knowledge, and 56.95 of 80 for health information literacy. Significant differences were observed in knowledge of atopic dermatitis based on breastfeeding duration (F=4.12, p=.009), and in knowledge of food allergies based on mixed feeding (F=3.11, p=.049). Health information literacy showed significant relationships with education level (F=3.76, p=.026), occupation (F=3.99, p=.021), checking nutritional information (t=2.91, p=.004), mixed feeding (F=4.50, p=.014), and atopic dermatitis diagnosis (t=6.86, p=.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between atopic dermatitis knowledge, food allergy knowledge, and health information literacy. Conclusion: Personalized educational programs should be implemented to improve awareness of allergies and health information literacy among North Korean refugee mothers, which would help them find, evaluate, and understand health-related information. These programs should focus on providing nutrition and dietary education to promote healthy growth in children and prevent diseases.