• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.199-215
• /
• 1996

In Korea, the majority of hospital dietitians expend most of their time performing food management related activities, and only a few carry out nutrition care activities in full-time. This study was designed to measure productivity of the clinical nutrition team and assess the role of clinical dietitians in the only 2200-bed teaching hospital in Korea. Six full-time clinical dietitians collected time data for four weeks according to the nutrition care activities outlined. Three clinical dietitians assigned to 7 units recorded how often physicians implemented their recommendations for two months. Two kinds of survey questionaire were developed and sent to the patients and the health care team. The followings are a summary of the results. 1. The clinical nutrition team of 6 full-time dietitians expended 75% of their time performing patient care activities, 20% in non-patient care activities and 5% in delay and transit. 2. Each clinical dietitian assigned to the units carried out 56 patient care activities on daily basis. 3. The average time required for the clinical nutrition services was 60.2 minutes for outpatient counseling, 89 minutes for inpatient counseling, 72.5 minutes for nutrition management, 95 minutes for malnutrition consult and 121 minutes for dysphagia diet management. 4. Physicians' implementation of clinical dietitians' recommendations was 98.5%. 5. Most physicians and nurses viewed the clinical dietitians on the units assertive, contributing to the quality improvement of medical services, and helpful to the patients as well as the health care team. 6. Most patients viewed the clinical dietitians on the units considerate, attentive and helpful. Based on these results, it is suggested that (1) daily meal round and nutrition care monitoring are effective tools for nutrition intervention in the hospital setting. (2) unit assignment of clinical dietitians enhances the patients' satisfaction in the nutrition services provided as well as the perceptions of health care team on clinical dietitian's expertise.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.69-81
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in perception of clinical nutrition service (CNS) between doctors and dietitians working in hospitals in Busan and the Gyeongnam area. Research was performed through questionnaires (from November to December 2011) at over 100 beds. 73.3% of dietitians were aware of the Nutrition Support Team (NST), while only 15.6% of doctors were aware of it. Due to heavy work and lack of medical staff, doctors didn't participate in NST, although most of them recognized the necessity of NST. 61.7% of dietitians screened and managed malnourished patients, whereas only 29.8% of doctors did. The main reason dietitians didn't treat malnourished patients was the absence of a treatment system in the hospital. Less than 50% of dietitians participated in the doctor's round to malnourished patients. As for why dietitians didn't participate in doctor's rounds, 71% of doctors chose understaffed dietitians and 38.1% of dietitians chose the doctors' unawareness of the importance of the dietitian in doctor's rounds. For the lower rate of nutrition counseling in provincial regions, compared to the capital region, 46.8% of doctors cited a lack of connection between doctors and clinical dietitians, while 43.3% of dietitians cited the lack of doctors' awareness on the importance of nutrition counseling. Although 87.3% of the doctors and 91.6% of the dietitians answered that CNS is important for treatment, the perception of onsite performance status on CNS was found to be low in both groups. 48.9% of doctors and 50.0% of dietitians regarded dietitians in the hospital as personnel in charge of food services, rather a member of the medical team. To improve the awareness of the importance of the CNS, and the image of clinical dietitians, 31.2% of doctors answered "to introduce a professional dietitian license for each disease" and 26.7% of dietitians answered "to change the system in the hospital". Most subjects found that a separation of clinical nutrition services from the food service part is needed. These results suggest that it is important to narrow the difference in perceptions of clinical nutrition services between doctors and dietitians for an organized clinical nutrition management of patients in hospitals in Busan and the Gyeongnam area.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.199-211
• /
• 2014

The increasing elderly population has created an urgent need for well-managed convalescent hospitals, which should provide appropriate clinical nutrition services. The new accreditation policy requiring participation of all convalescent hospitals since 2013 may promote improvement of clinical nutrition services. This study examined whether or not the accreditation policy has increased practice level and dietitians' perception of the importance of clinical nutrition management. Of the 177 convalescent hospitals accredited by January 30, 2014, dietitians from 73 hospitals (41.2%) completed the survey questionnaire. The pre-tested questionnaire surveyed general characteristics of the hospital and dietitians, current status of clinical nutrition management, and changes in the perception and practice levels of various aspects of food and clinical nutrition management. In average, dietitians with more than 5 years of work experience (68.1%) provided food and clinical nutrition services (71.2%). After accreditation, dietitians' perception of the importance and practice level of clinical nutrition service increased (P<0.001). Level of perception, however, was significantly (P<0.001) higher than practice level before and after accreditation. During perception and practice level of initial nutrition assessment, a compulsory accreditation item, notably and significantly (P<0.001) improved after accreditation. The significant difference between perception and practice level disappeared after accreditation. In conclusion, the accreditation process had positive effects on clinical nutrition management in terms of dietitians' perception and practice levels. Making more accreditation items compulsory and providing motivation and professional education to dietitians in convalescent hospitals could lead to additional improvements.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.123-139
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to document how clinical dietitians working at tertiary hospitals spend their time based on several categories of activities using a time measurement study. The questionnaires were distributed to 14 tertiary hospitals, and dietitians answered by classifying their work activities into several categories such as general care, indirect care, direct care, outpatient care, and food service management. A total of 129 clinical dietitians replied and their answers were analyzed according to the categories of activities. The times spent on the categories are as follows: general care (76.7 mins/day, 14%), indirect care (228.4 mins/day, 35%), direct care (120.1 mins/day, 22%), outpatient care (61.5 mins/day, 11%), and food service management (99.0 mins/day, 18%). The total working hours for dietitians was 590.0 mins, which exceeds the standard working hours of 540.0 mins (9 hrs) a day. From this study, we found that clinical dietitians spent very limited time on direct care. Times spent on activities were different according to type of employment and food service. Internship dietitians spent their more time on general care (P<0.001) while irregular dietitians spent more time on outpatient care (P<0.05). In contracted managed food service hospitals, clinical dietitians spent significantly less time on food service management (P<0.001). Regardless of doctors' order and consultation fees, clinical dietitians performed more than 95 percent of free consultation to patients. Entry-level knowledge and skills of dietitians working at hospitals are very important for quality service, but it is equally important to create an administrative and social environment that encourages clinical dietitian to spend more time on direct patient care.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.512-524
• /
• 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 Community Nutrition
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2005

This exploratory study investigated the software programs utilized by clinical dietitians and their perceptions on the use of information technology. The study focused on the use of specialized software for dietetics, general software for any office use and the Internet. A self-administered survey was used to collect data from clinical dietitians identified in the Kentucky Dietetic Association Directory 2003-2004. The survey was conducted in March through April, 2004. A total of 22 responses were collected, which yielded a response rate of $68\%$. Findings suggest that computer use has become a routine for optimal clinical practice ; major specialized software programs are used for nutrition assessment, nutrition analysis and menu development. Use of specialized software appears to be unassociated with dietitians' age and years of experience ; however, the associations are indicated between use of specialized software and education level as well as their specialty ; word processing and spreadsheet are the major general software used. Internet is used mainly for information search and communication. Respondents perceived that overall work efficiency and productivity significantly increased with computer use. The complexity of software is the major barrier encountered so training is the most needed support by the department. Strategic promotion on the use of specialized software should be targeted to the management team of the hospitals/facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.265-286
• /
• 2013

The present study was conducted to develop a standardized job description for clinical dietitians working in hospitals. A developing curriculum (DACUM) method was used for the job analysis of clinical dietitians. Based on DACUM analysis with 14 members, including clinical dietitians and professors majoring in clinical nutrition and job analysis, information on the duties, tasks, and task elements of clinical dietitians was determined. To verify the job descriptions derived from DACUM analysis, a total of 46 tertiary and general hospitals with over 500 beds were recruited for the survey. The final developed job description for clinical dietitians included 7 duties, 27 tasks, and 93 task elements. The duties consisted of nutritional assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, nutrition monitoring evaluation, consultation cooperation, nutrition research, and self-development. The mean scores of perceived importance, performance, and difficulty on the clinical dietitian's task elements (out of a maximum score of 5.0) were 4.5, 3.7, and 3.5, respectively, with significant differences between the items (P<0.001). The perceived importance and performance grid of clinical dietitian's tasks showed that "construction and maintenance of collaboration" (E2) and "activity of quality improvement" (F1) received relatively low scores for performance despite their high importance scores; thus the performance of these tasks requires significant improvement. In conclusion, the job descriptions of clinical dietitians developed from this study are useful for the qualitative improvement of clinical nutrition services in hospitals.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.37-56
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted to develop job standards for clinical dietitian administering clinical nutrition therapy to diabetic patients in hospitals. Based on DACUM (Developing A Curriculum) analysis of 17 members including clinical dietitians, professors majoring in clinical nutrition and researchers, information on duties, tasks and task elements of clinical dietitians for diabetes care were derived and applied to diabetes mellitus-specific clinical nutrition care in hospitals for evaluation. The final developed job standards for clinical dietitians for diabetes care included four duties, 19 tasks and 56 task elements. The duties consisted of nutrition assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention, and nutrition monitoring evaluation. For application of diabetes mellitus-specific job standards in clinical nutrition care, 108 work activities were developed and classified into 90 basic and 18 recommended types. Performance rates of standardized jobs were 80.2% at nutrition assessment, 99.6% at nutrition diagnosis, 78.5% at nutrition intervention, and 32.9% at nutrition monitoring evaluation. These results can be applied as guidelines to implement jobs for diabetes mellitus-specific clinical nutrition services in clinical settings. In addition, they would be useful for education standards in educational institutions for education and training of clinical dietitian.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.281-291
• /
• 1998

Job analysis was done by the method of interview and survey to find out the human attributes needed for dietitans' job performance. The knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics including personality were major items in the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 340 schools and hospital dietitians. Among these, 201 were compeletely filled out, returned and statistically analyzed according to the frequency scale and importance scale respectively. The results were as follows : 1) The age, education, job experience and monthly pay of hospital dietitians were higher than those of school dietitians. This was partly due to the reflection of short chronicle of school foodservice. 2) The most important human attributes for rwo groups were commonly shown as sincere and faithful personality, good human relationship and responsibility for business outcome. 3) Computer skill and menuplanning ability were human attributes of the most frequently used by school dietitians, whereas knowledge of diet therapy, clinical nutrition, and pathology of disease were frequently used by hospital dietitians. 4) The correlation coefficients between two groups were as follows : Spearman's rho value of personality, skills and abilities, and knowledge were 0.806, -0.432,-0.203 respectively, according to the importance scale. 5) An overall view from t test between two groups, various human attributes, especially knowledge were more frequently used by hospital dietitians.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.99-107
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Competent renal dietitians are crucial for better patient compliance and clinical outcomes, specifically in critical settings. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an evidence-based course in renal dietetics for dietitians working in health care systems where dietetic specialization is absent. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen licensed dietitians working with hemodialysis patients in Lebanon were randomly recruited to participate in the course. The latter was developed by the study's primary investigator, according to evidence-based practice guidelines, and focused on all aspects of renal nutrition. Total course duration was 28 hours spread over a 2 month period. Dietitians' knowledge in renal nutrition was tested pre- and post-training through a 23-item questionnaire; the total score was expressed in percentage (< 60% score indicated insufficient knowledge). Paired-samples t test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall knowledge of the dietitians significantly improved post-training and reached satisfactory levels (pre: $38.75{\pm}17.20%$, post: $62.08{\pm}21.85%$). Sub-analysis of the change in the knowledge showed significant and satisfactory improvement only in 3 topics: 1) correct body weight use in calculations, 2) energy estimation method and 3) phosphorus management. Knowledge in the fluid management significantly improved but did not achieve a satisfactory level. CONCLUSION: The course significantly improved dietitians' knowledge in renal nutrition. If adopted as part of the continuing education of dietitians in countries that lack dietetic specializations, it may serve the first step towards improving health care practice.