충북지역 일부 학교 영양(교)사의 건강기능식품에 대한 인식 및 교육 요구

Abstract

We investigated perception and educational demand for health functional foods among nutrition teachers and dietitians working in schools. The subjects were 229 nutrition teachers (57.2%) and dietitians (42.7%) working in Chungbuk elementary, middle and high schools. Approximately 67% of the subjects had experience consuming health functional foods. Most of the subjects did not have experience with the side effects after consuming health functional foods. Subjects who were unaware of the legal specifications, classification, and labeling standards for health functional foods (78-91.2%) were much more common than those who were aware of those issues. Most of the subjects perceived health functional foods as a food (45.0%) or as a product between a food and a medicine (44.5%). The subjects recommended themselves (43.1%) or medical doctors/pharmacists (40.8%) as consultation/education specialists for health functional foods. Approximately 66% of the subjects had experience conducting nutritional consultation/education in their schools, but only 3.2% had experience with health functional foods. Only 17.8% of the subjects had experience receiving education on health functional foods. Most subjects (88.2%) demanded education on health functional foods for themselves. The results suggest that an effective education is needed for nutrition teachers and dietitians working in schools for them to play an active role in educating students and their parents about health functional foods in the near future.