• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.646-654
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• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to determine the effects of mothers' nutrition knowledge on preschoolers' obesity and dietary habits. The subject population included 456 mothers and their preschoolers, aged 3 to 5 years, who were enrolling in kindergartens located in Seoul and KyongGi-Do, Korea. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The majority of mothers responded correctly to those questions concerning obesity-related nutritional knowledge, but responded incorrectly to questions regarding basic nutritional knowledge. 2. The mothers' nutritional knowledge was associated significantly with the mother's age (p<0.05) and degree of education (p<0.05). 3. The mothers' nutritional knowledge was significantly and negatively correlated with their obesity, but not with their preschoolers' obesity. 4. Mothers' nutritional knowledge was determined to be positively associated with higher interest in nutritional information and food selection in regard to weight management strategies for their kids. 5. In general, preschoolers whose mother had excellent nutrition knowledge evidenced better dietary habits than preschoolers whose mothers had poor nutrition knowledge. In particular, one question regarding serving size was significantly associated with mothers' general level of nutritional knowledge(p<0.05).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 1997

Knowledge and attitudes on current selection of fats and oils were surveyed among college students and USDA extension off campus faculties. The objective of this survey was to obtain information about the nutrition knowledge and attitudes toward fats and to assess relationships between the nutrition knowledge, general attitudes toward dietary fats, and specific attitudes toward the eating of certain foods. The attitudes toward and nutrition knowledge of dietary fat sections consisted of 22 and 39 statements respectively. Avoiding red meat and eggs and avoiding fats as a flavoring were attitudes whose maintenance may require special, long-term intervention strategies. Replacing high-fat foods with low-fat foods, modification(cutting fat off any meat) and substitution were easily adopted and maintained low-fat habit. The responses to wanting to lose some weight and feeling better if increasing exercise were favorable. The attitudes toward the possible relationships between fat consumption and health were favorable. Respondents on the nutrition knowledge test attained a mean score of 129.69 and a median score of 127 our of the highest possible score of 200. Extension off campus faculties, nutrition majoring/majored subjects, and over 41-year-olds tended to have more favorable general attitudes and specific attitudes toward the consumption of certain foods and higher knowledge. Senior students had more negative general attitudes and specific attitudes, and college graduates and graduate students had more nutrition knowledge. Nutrition know-ledge was related to general attitudes toward dietary fats, but not to more specific attitudes toward the eating of certain foods. Nutrition education will not be effective in modifying the intake of dietary fats in the population because nutrition knowledge related to general attitudes toward dietary fats and general nutrition practice but not the eating of certain foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 1985

The objective of this study is to collect basic data which can lead effective direction in performing nutritional education, by investigating 273 homemakers' knowledge and attitudes about nutrition. This study was performed using questionnaire about the knowledge and the attitudes of nutrition according to the age, education level, occupation, food cost, and total income. Results were summarized as follows; 1) sources in the knowledge of nutrition appeared by order of T.V., cookbooks, magazines newspapers, mothers, friends, lecturers in cooking school, and nutritionist. 2) A level in the knowledge of nutrition which scord an average marks 154.7(the highest marks 210) was higher compared to other studies. Informations about food composition scord lower marks than other studies. 3) Attitudes about nutrition showed high score in the aspects that nutrition has an important role in health, and desirable eating habits were formed in childhood. 4) The knowledge of nutrition had no significant differences with age, occupation, and food cost whereas it had significant correlation with education level and total income. The higher the level in education and total income, the higher the level in the knowledge of nutrition. 5) The attitudes about nutrition had no correlation with age, occupation, but it had a significant correlation with education level, food cost and total income. 6) There was an significant correlation between the knowledge and attitudes about nutrition. In order to promote children's nutrition status, nutrition education for mothers must be accomplished in the first place. Development of T.V. program for children's nutrition education is desirable.

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

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.551-558
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• 2012

The purpose of this research was to investigate how university students' nutrition beliefs influence their health behavioral intention. This study used an online survey engine (Qulatrics.com) to collect data from college students. Out of 253 questionnaires collected, 251 questionnaires (99.2%) were used for the statistical analysis. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed that six dimensions, "Nutrition Confidence," "Susceptibility," "Severity," "Barrier," "Benefit," "Behavioral Intention to Eat Healthy Food," and "Behavioral Intention to do Physical Activity," had construct validity; Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliabilities were tested for item reliability. The results validate that objective nutrition knowledge was a good predictor of college students' nutrition confidence. The results also clearly showed that two direct measures were significant predictors of behavioral intentions as hypothesized. Perceived benefit of eating healthy food and perceived barrier for eat healthy food to had significant effects on Behavioral Intentions and was a valid measurement to use to determine Behavioral Intentions. These findings can enhance the extant literature on the universal applicability of the model and serve as useful references for further investigations of the validity of the model within other health care or foodservice settings and for other health behavioral categories.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 2009

With recent increases in demand for women's social participation, children have tended to favor western-style foods and dislike vegetables (Veg.). The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary behavior and Veg. intake in 612 elementary school children (339 boys; 273 girls) in Gyeonggi-do. 66.5% of the subjects reported that they liked Veg. The most frequent reason given for this preference in Veg. liking group was that vegetables were 'delicious' (35.6%), followed by 'nutritious' and 'frequent intake'. The most frequent reason given for disliking Veg. in the Veg. disliking group was that vegetables are 'not delicious' (94.6%). Approximately half of the subjects had correct knowledge about vegetables. The total score of general nutrition knowledge was 7.7 points (a perfect score is 10 points) and the majority of students generally had good dietary behaviors. The Veg. liking group scored higher on knowledge about Veg., general nutritional knowledge, dietary behavior, and Veg. preference than did the members of the Veg. disliking group (p<0.001). The 'active' group had the highest score for dietary behavior (p<0.001), and the scores for dietary behavior and Veg. preference increased with increasing self-rated health status (p<0.001). The score of normal BMI group for nutritional knowledge about Veg. was higher than that of the underweight group (p<0.05). The higher self-rated academic score group showed higher on knowledge about Veg., general nutrition knowledge, dietary behavior (p<0.001) and Veg. preference (p<0.05). Dietary behavior and preference of Veg. were positively correlated with nutritional knowledge. To improve health by increasing Veg. intake, education about the nutritional importance of Veg. should be needed, and continuous nutritional education is recommended to foster good food habits and Veg. preferences in children.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The current South Korean government policy on food irradiation technology should be reformed based on an in-depth investigation of the communications aspect, because the issue is no longer of a technological nature, given the proven safety and efficacy of the processes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The target population of the education program consisted of elementary, middle, and high school students attending 310 schools in South Korea (2013: 63 schools, 2014: 104 schools, 2015: 143 schools). Data subjected to analysis were 13,327 pre-education and 12,641 post-education questionnaires received from 7,582 elementary, 2,671 middle, and 3,249 high school students who participated in the education program from May 2012 to April 2015 (n = 12,831), after the exclusion of inadequately filled-in questionnaires. RESULTS: Analysis of the three-year educational effect trend was conducted by comparing levels of variables before and after food radiation education. The analysis yielded the finding that the post-education levels were significantly higher for all variables. That is, for interest in education, perception (necessity, safety, subjective knowledge, and information acquisition), objective knowledge, and attitude, with the sole exception of objective knowledge in 2013. CONCLUSIONS: Given that post-education levels of perception, knowledge, and attitude concerning irradiated foods increased considerably compared to pre-education levels, behavior change should be induced by providing continuous education to enhance, these primary variables.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.220-225
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to assess beliefs (e.g. advantages, disadvantages, benefits, barriers) and knowledge about eating peanuts and tree nuts. Personal interviews based on the Theory of Planned Behavior were conducted to elicit beliefs about eating nuts. Then, a cross-sectional survey was administered to WIC participants from one county in North Carolina. One-hundred-twenty-four WIC participants (mean (SD) age=28.39 (8.09) completed the study. Most were Caucasian (51.6%) females (96%). About one third believed that eating nuts may help to lower cholesterol level. However, only about one forth believed that nuts can lower a risk of a heart attack or diabetes. More than one third believed that eating nuts will cause weight gain. The knowledge of respondents' about nutrient content of nuts was low with correct answers to most questions about 20% or below. The mean (SD) positive attitude, negative attitude, benefits and barriers scores, based on a range from 1 to 5, were 2.53 (0.91), 3.25 (0.89), 2.97 (0.85) and 2.90 (0.76), respectively. WIC participants' beliefs regarding the health effects of nuts are inconsistent with the most recent research findings. They are in a need to education about benefits of eating nuts.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.839-845
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to examine the eating habit characteristic and developmental outcomes of young children (ages 24 months through 42 months) as well as their mothers' nutritional attitudes and maternal levels of nutrition knowledge. The study also analyzed relationships among the children's eating habits and developmental outcomes and the mothers' nutritional attitudes and nutrition knowledge levels. The subjects included 164 young children who were enrolled in early childhood education and care settings in Seoul and Gyunggi province. The main results were as follows. There were significant correlations among the young children's eating habits and developmental outcomes, specifically between their attitudes towards meals and fine motor skills, communication, social-emotional aspects, and cognitive areas (p<0.01). In addition, there were significant correlations among the young children's eating habits, the mothers' nutritional attitudes and their nutrition knowledge levels (p<0.01).

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2002

The objective of tole study was to compare nutritional knowledge, attitudes and food practices of competitive athletes, recreational athletes and non-participants. All students enrolled at the University of Nebraska in an Introductory Nutrition course in which sports nutrition was stressed, were asked to participate in the study. The course was typical of many introductory nutrition courses ; about two thirds of the students were from the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and most of the students were encouraged to take this course by their advisers. The students were divided into three groups : 20 competitive athletes (mostly runners, swimmers, basketball players and football players for the University), 14 recreational athletes (who were involved in a planned exercise program at least 2 hours per week), and 19 non-participants. At the beginning of the semester, students completed a food frequency questionnaire, and a 24-hour food record based on the Food Guide Pyramid. A nutrition knowledge and attitude questionnaire was formulated specifically for this study, covering normal nutrition and sports nutrition. The results showed that consumption of foods from all Food Guide Pyramid food groups except the fats/oils/sweets group was not significantly different among the three student groups. Regarding the fats/oils/sweets group, competitive athletes consumed significantly more numbers of servings than recreational athletes, while the recreational athletes consumed significantly more than non-participants (p<0.01). The total mean scores from the nutrition attitude and knowledge questionnaire were not significantly different among the three student groups. However, combined athletes (competitive athletes and recreational athletes) obtained significantly higher scores on some of the nutrition attitude questions (p<0.05). The results of the study indicate that athletes, significantly lower scores on some of the nutrition knowledge questions (p<0.05). The results of the study indicate that athletes, whether competitive or some of the nutrition knowledge questions (p<0.05). The results of the study indicate that athletes, whether competitive or recreational, had a very positive attitude regarding the effects of nutrition on their sports performance and health: however, these athletes did not appear to apply scientific principles of sports nutrition to their diet. In conclusion, advising athletes to simply increase or decrease their intakes of certain foods is too simplistic an approach for maintenance of good health and for better sporting performance. Athletes and non-athletes need continuous nutrition education to help with improving their competitive edge and food choices.