• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.416-423
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• 2013

This study analyzed the reasons for continuing education among dietitians. An internet-based survey of 622 dieticians was conducted from August 31, 2012 to September 12, 2012. Based on data from the Participation Reasons Scale (PRS) questionnaire, factor analysis was conducted by principle component analysis for the extraction of major factors. Subsequent reliability analysis was performed by assessing Cronbach's ${\alpha}$. The ANOVA-test was performed to compare the participation reason scores for each factors according to general characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver.17.0, and P<0.05 was considered significant. Factor analysis for the participation reasons revealed four types of factors. These factors were "maintenance and development of professional competencies", "interaction and responsibility of professionals", "job stability and personal profits" and "services for customers" respectively. Among the participation reasons, "maintenance and development of professional competencies" was the first reason with a 29.34% variance. In addition, the participation reasons for continuing education differed according to age (P<0.05), the highest level of education (P<0.05), workplace (P<0.01), and work experience in dietetic area (P<0.001). In conclusion, continuing education programs for dietitians should focus on effectively developing and promoting professionalism.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.550-559
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• 2010

The study was conducted to assess school dietitians' preferences for traditional foods, to determine the association with their perception and usage status, and to develop the strategies to increase its utilization of traditional foods in school lunches. The information was obtained by the self-administered questionnaire from the subjects, which were 198 dietitians in schools located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. According to the preference for traditional foods, subjects were distributed into three groups (High = 54, Medium = 128, Low = 16). The significances of differences between groups were determined using SPSS 12.0 at p < 0.05. Compared to the dietitians with lower (medium and low) preferences, those with high preferences answered that they had better knowledge (p < 0.001) for traditional foods, and served them more in school lunches (p < 0.01). Also, more dieticians in the high preference group not only felt that they need to train school administrators (p < 0.01) as well as themselves (p < 0.05), but also were currently providing students with the nutrition education on traditional foods (p < 0.05). The results presented the evidence suggesting that having dietitians with higher preference for traditional foods can offer an effective strategy to increase the opportunities for schoolchildren to be exposed to traditional foods. Development of the standard recipes for use in school lunches by the government or the association was answered as the best strategy to increase the use of traditional foods, regardless of the dietitians' preferences.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.513-526
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to identify the guideline's contents for dietitians' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) for the sustainability management at school foodservice. The contents for the guideline were determined by the Delphi technique of two rounds. The Delphi panels of experts were consisted of sixteen school dietitians and fourteen professors of food and nutrition with more than 10 years of experiences by convenience sampling method. Based on the literature, knowledge, attitudes, and practices required for dieticians were classified into menu management, procurement, food production, facility and energy management, waste management, personnel management, and nutrition education. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 24 and EXCEL to calculate descriptive statistics, content validity ratio, degree of agreement, and degree of convergence. As a result of the second round, the validity scores of 'knows eco-friendly certification standards and labeling systems (4.53 point)' in the knowledge category, and 'tries to purchase local agricultural products (4.87 point)' in the attitude category were the highest. From that round in the practice category, the validity scores of 'plan menus for students' health', 'purchases eco-friendly food', and 'conserves energy in pre-processing and cooking process' were the highest with 4.73 point. Applying the criteria for securing the validity of the contents, the contents of 25 knowledge items, 20 attitude items and 30 practice items were confirmed. The findings of the study can be used to develop the guideline for dietitians required for the sustainability management.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.405-417
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• 2008

The purpose of the study was to investigate the sanitation management status and implementation barriers of the HACCP system. A survey was conducted based on 760 schools through e-mail after having gone through phone interviews to dieticians in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon areas from December 2006 to March 2007. The following statistics were drawn out from the 459 surveys out of the 760, thus giving a response rate of 60.4% (N = 459). The statistical data analysis was completed using the SPSS program. 92.6% of the respondents operated sanitary education once a month and 67.1 % used internet as their sanitary educational source. 50.5% of the pre-preparation rooms were not divided and 78.0% of kitchen floors were always kept wet. Only 15.7% of the respondents used heat and cold insulators and 73.2% of drinking water was natural or purified water. 60.3% of food trays were electronically sterilized and 70.2% of spoons and chopsticks were sterilized by boiling water. The main cause of food-borne diseases was the lack of facilities and equipment (33.1%). Also, the deficiency of facilities and equipment (4.07 points) acted as an implementation barrier of the HACCP system. Compared to Gyeonggi or Incheon area results, Seoul's facilities and equipment (p < 0.001) and implementing barriers of the HACCP system (p < 0.001) results came out relatively high. After the analysis of the implementation barriers of the HACCP system, 91.7% of school principals said it was difficult to apply the HACCP system due to lack of financial support. In consideration to the school foodservice support, solutions for the facilities of school foodservice and a systematic sanitary education of the HACCP system must be made for the employees and everyone else who are related.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1083-1093
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• 2003

Efficient financial management is a critical factor in achieving school foodservice goals. The objective of this study was to suggest efficient financial management practices in secondary school foodservices. In pursuit of this objective, we first identified performance indexes for measuring the success of financial management. Second, we suggested financial management standards, financial data classification methods and a report system. Last, we analyzed operating ratios with the financial data of self-operated and contract-managed school food services. The data were collected through an open-ended questionnaire from 10 middle/high school foodservices in Seoul and Kyeonggi Provincial during on-sites visits and interviews with dieticians and managers. Student participation, sales goals, re-contract frequency and number and cost of disaster loss were identified as the performance indexes for financial management. Income statements were compiled by identifying and classifying financial data. Total revenues consisted of subsidies, meal sales, other revenue and interest. Expenditures consisted of purchased food, salaries and wages, utility costs, office supplies, kitchen supplies, purchased services, company overhead indirect costs, facility investment and maintenance, facility usage expenses, employee benefits and miscellaneous. Mean price of a meal was 2,326 won at self-operated foodservices when the subsidies were included as revenues and 2,360 won at contract-managed foodservices. When including the subsidies as revenues, the operating ratios of self-operated foodservice showed that the food cost percentage was 66.9％, labor cost 23.2％, operation cost 9.9％ and profit 0％. The correspond figures at contract-managed foodservices were 57.6％, 21.5％, 15.3％, and 5.5％, respectively. Food costs in self-operated foodservices was significantly higher than that for contract-managed foodservices, however, facility investment and maintenance and facility usage expenses at self-operated foodservices was significantly lower than those for contract-managed foodservices. Based on this study, the methodology and classification system of financial data was found to be applicable to assess the financial structure of school foodservices.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.341-352
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• 2008

The number of school lunch-supported children who belong to low-income families has been rapidly increased in Korea. This study was aimed at evaluation of nutritional status of school lunch-supported elementary school children. One hundred school lunch-supported children and 119 non-supported children of fourth to sixth year class in 3 elementary schools in Gyeongbuk rural area were selected, and surveys were conducted twice, i.e., once during school term and once during summer vacation in 2006. Food consumption survey during school term was carried out through an interview by dieticians at school-lunch time using a 24-hour recall method, and the survey during summer vacation conducted by recording food intakes for three days by children. Nutrient intakes were calculated using CAN-Pro 3.0 program. School lunch-supported children showed higher rate of skipping breakfast and rather irregular meal time as compared to non-supported students. Eating alone was more frequent in school lunch-supported children than in nonsupported children. The average nutrient intakes and nutrient adequacy ratios were lower in supported children than in non-supported children. During term, percentages of nutrient intakes provided by school-lunch were higher in supported children than in non-supported children. Intakes of energy nutrients were within acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges, but proportion of carbohydrate intake increased during vacation. Analysis of patterns of food intakes based on major food groups (dairy, meat, grain, fruit, vegetable) indicated that meals during term were more balanced as compared to meals during vacation. In conclusion, food behaviors and nutrient intakes of school lunchsupported children were inferior to those of non-supported children during term and during summer vacation. They were provided with more nutrient intakes from school lunch during term as compared to non-supported children. Therefore, it is necessary not only to keep meal support program during vacation but also to provide a proper nutrition education as a part of school lunch program to improve nutritional status and food behaviors of school lunch-supported children.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.801-812
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diet planning in childcare centers is difficult because of the required knowledge of nutrition and development as well as the high design complexity associated with large numbers of food items. Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to provide diet-planning solutions via automatic and effective application of professional knowledge, addressing the complexity of optimal diet design. This study presents the results of the evaluation of the utility of AI-generated diets for children and provides related implications. MATERIALS/METHODS: We developed 2 AI solutions for children aged 3-5 yrs using a generative adversarial network (GAN) model and a reinforcement learning (RL) framework. After training these solutions to produce daily diet plans, experts evaluated the human- and AI-generated diets in 2 steps. RESULTS: In the evaluation of adequacy of nutrition, where experts were provided only with nutrient information and no food names, the proportion of strong positive responses to RL-generated diets was higher than that of the human- and GAN-generated diets (P < 0.001). In contrast, in terms of diet composition, the experts' responses to human-designed diets were more positive when experts were provided with food name information (i.e., composition information). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the development and evaluation of AI to support dietary planning for children. This study demonstrates the possibility of developing AI-assisted diet planning methods for children and highlights the importance of composition compliance in diet planning. Further integrative cooperation in the fields of nutrition, engineering, and medicine is needed to improve the suitability of our proposed AI solutions and benefit children's well-being by providing high-quality diet planning in terms of both compositional and nutritional criteria.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.105-114
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• 2008

The purposes of this study were to identify the students’ perception and to evaluate the satisfaction with the quality of school foodservice in Chungbuk Province. A questionnaire survey of 900 students was conducted and 370 completed questionnaires were available for the purpose of the statistical evaluation. Statistical analyses were performed on the data utilizing the SAS V8.2 program. Importance, performance and satisfaction scale were composed of 5-Likert scales. The main results of this study were summarized as follows: The degree of importance and performance on twenty three attributes and the degree of satisfaction with four dimensions and overall satisfaction were measured according to type of school, location of school, place for eating, type of foodservice system and type of foodservice operation. The importance score was significantly higher than the performance score at all quality attributes except for the food appearance. The performance score of ‘waiting time’ and ‘atmosphere’ was less than 3 point out of 5 scale. The average satisfaction score for the quality dimensions of food, sanitation and service was 3.35, 3.19 and 3.10 point out of 5 scale, respectively. The satisfaction score for dimension of environment was 2.93 point out of 5 scale. The score for overall satisfaction was 3.27 point out of 5 scale. The satisfaction score for elementary school foodservice management was significantly higher than middle and high school foodservices. The satisfaction score for commissary foodservice operations was significantly higher than conventional foodservice operations. Using survey results as a base, the dieticians of school foodservice are required to meet the needs of the students and increase students’ satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.1148-1156
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• 2013

Studies have shown that the preference and average consumption of kimchi among youths have been decreasing partly due to the westernization of the diet. In this study, we examined kimchi consumption status and the annual utilization of 29 kimchi menus registered in the National Education Information System (NEIS) among the students, and then developed seven kimchi menus based on the preference tests and plate waste analysis. Our findings showed that average kimchi consumption by second and fifth graders during lunch time was 19.3% and 17.3%, respectively, of the recommendation (40 g per meal) in the 2010 KDRI. Incidentally, more than 75% of elementary school dieticians answered that ten kimchi menus (31%) registered in the NEIS were never chosen by them in the previous year. The least adopted types of kimchi menu included cooked rice, porridge, stew, pancake, deep-fry and grill. The newly developed kimchi menus included kimchi sauce tofu deopbap, kimchi bacon rice ball, kimchi chicken potato stew, kimchi vegetable fried noodles, kimchi meatballs, kimchi cheese croquette and kimchi potato salad. All these kimchi food items contained 10~20 g of kimchi per serving, and the standardized recipes and nutrient analysis were provided. Kimchi cheese croquette was most liked by fourth graders followed by kimchi sauce tofu deopbap, kimchi meatball and kimchi chicken potato stew in that order. These four menus were again evaluated among second and fifth graders. The kimchi meatballs were most preferred among these groups of students with no leftover but kimchi sauce tofu deopbap was least favorable, producing 17.1% of plate waste. Finally, kimchi cheese croquette and kimchi potato salad were given the highest and lowest scores, respectively, by 87 school dieticians. The findings of this study suggest that efforts on the development of kimchi menu for school food services may help to promote a preference and consumption of kimchi among elementary school students.