Dietetic Department Research Articles

Development of Nutrient-Rich Complementary Food from Sweet Potatoes, Carrots and Crayfish for Combating Infant Malnutrition in Low-income Communities

This study aimed to enhance traditional cereal-based complementary foods in Nigeria by developing and evaluating a nutrient-dense blend of sweet potato, carrot, and crayfish. The objective was to address protein-energy malnutrition in low-resource settings by improving the nutritional profile of local complementary foods. Samples were analyzed in triplicate for proximate composition and selected micronutrients using AOAC standard techniques. Sensory evaluation was conducted using a 5-point hedonic scale with a panel of ten nursing mothers from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Lead City University. Results showed that the blend contained 14.74±0.32% crude protein, 72.19±0.51% carbohydrates, and 0.97±0.02% fat. Micronutrient analysis revealed high levels of vitamin C (19.06±0.70 mg/100ml) and phosphorus (497.33±3.37 mg/100ml). Sensory evaluation indicated that the product was well-accepted, with mean scores of 4.2±0.6 for taste (slightly sweet), 4.0±0.7 for color (light brown), and 3.8±0.8 for flavor (mildly fishy). This novel blend significantly improves upon traditional cereal-based complementary foods by providing a more balanced nutrient profile that meets WHO/FAO recommendations. It offers a practical, locally-sourced solution to enhance infant nutrition in low-resource settings, potentially reducing the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition. Further studies on its long-term effects on child growth and development are recommended.

"Aware or not": Determining the Professional Awareness Rates of Nutrition and Dietetics Students and Identifying the Affecting Factors

The aim of the study is to determine the rates of professional awareness among nutrition and dietetics students and identify the factors that affect it. This cross-sectional study was conducted with A total of 226 dietetics students at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx University. The main outcome measure of the study is to determine the professional awareness and affecting the factors. Study data were evaluated with descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis. Most students choose careers because of family support and the desire for health promotion. Awareness rates about professional regulations were evident (min 71.7%). Significant factors of awareness were individual (including professional love, interests, desires), practices, and trends or social effects. The identification of factors of awareness students experiencing professional challenges and recognize that there are common factors among dietetics students may increase awareness among educators, guide the development of course policies, and highlight the importance of mitigating major sources of awareness for students.

Development of a team-specific research strategy using a modified Delphi method in a regional public hospital dietetics department.

Evaluate research capacity and culture among regional hospital dietitians, develop a team specific research strategy, and build research skills of novice researchers. The Research Capacity in Context Tool was used to assess current research capacity and culture at organisational, team and individual levels. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis of free text responses. A modified Delphi method gained consensus regarding research capacity building. Mixed method study. Dietetics department of a regional tertiary hospital (Modified Monash Category 2). All clinical dietitians currently employed within the hospital (n = 20) regardless of employment duration. Self-rated response to research capacity and culture to produce a dietetics-specific research strategy. Fifteen dietitians (75%) completed the Research Capacity in Context Tool. The overall mean score was highest at an organisational level at 7.9 (IQR 2), and lowest at team and individual levels at 4.3 (IQR 2.7) and 4.9 (IQR 3.3) respectively. Common barriers to research included time, lack of skills, knowledge and support. Using the modified Delphi method 39 statements relating to research capacity building met consensus and informed the creation of a research strategy. The results of the Research Capacity in Context Tool from this regional study reflect those reported in the literature at metropolitan sites. A dietetic-specific research strategy was developed to assist with increasing research capacity at a team and individual level in a regional setting. Evaluation of long-term outcomes post implementation will be the subject of further research.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) of body segment composition as an obesity assessment tool among Jordanians

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a body composition assessing technique for estimating body components; fat, and muscle mass, and body water (BW) by measuring the electrical resistance in ohm (Ω) of those components with response to the flow of a small electrical current through the body. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to investigate the relationships between segmental body composition, obesity and body mass index (BMI). The analysis in this study involved the use of InBody 370S equipment to conduct the body composition study of 48 adult participants (30 females and 18 males) at the Applied Science Private University (ASU) School of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, between October, 2019 and January, 2020, Jordan. Anthropometric parameters such as weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip (W/H) ratio for each individual were measured. The values indicated that BMI of 26.5 for males and 25.42 for females and body composition such as body fat mass (BFM), protein, and visceral fat level (VFL) of females of BMI > 30 was 39.82 compared to 32.60 for males of the same category. The VFL for female individuals was higher than males (13.0 and 17.5) of the same BMI category. The results of BIA analysis, lean body mass, and body muscle mass were found to be significantly (p <0.05 ) correlated in obese adult females but not in obese males, where the body fat mass (BFM) of females with BMI > 30 was 39.82±4.35 compared to 32.6±3.67 for males of the same group. Additionally, the BFM (−3.86**), segmental muscle mass (SMM) was 0.784**, and total body water (TBW) of −0.658** were all indirectly correlated at (p <0.01) with the BIA impedance evaluated as Z(Ω) at 250 kHz. However, the lean mass of the left arm ( −0.662**) and left leg muscle (− 0.514**) were found to be significantly correlated (p < 0.01) and lower in identified obese females compared to non-obese individuals. The findings demonstrate the strong correlation between lean and fat segmental analysis values, and the level of obesity and segmental analysis for male and female individuals can be taken into consideration in obesity and disease prevention. Key words: BIA, obesity, segmental analysis, body composition, BMI, WHR, VFL

Who gets an annual review for coeliac disease? Patients with lower health literacy and lower dietary adherence consider them important.

A lifelong gluten-free (GF) diet to manage coeliac disease is recognised to be challenging. This paper comprises two studies: study one aimed to report the opinions of adults with coeliac disease on review provision and explore factors influencing dietary adherence. Study two aimed to report dietetic provision for adults with coeliac disease. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 722 adults with coeliac disease, including validated dietary adherence, health literacy and quality-of-life questionnaires. An online and paper survey designed to capture the provision of dietetic services to adults with coeliac disease was completed by 88 dietetic departments within the United Kingdom. Only 26% of adults with coeliac disease were offered annual reviews. In contrast, 85% considered reviews important, with 62% preferring dietetic provision. Those who considered reviews important had lower health literacy, greater dietary burden, poorer GF dietary adherence and lower GF food knowledge (all p < 0.05) compared with those who did not consider reviews important. GF dietary adherence was associated with health literacy, self-regulatory behaviours, dietary burden and GF food knowledge; 53% agreed with the 'cost of GF food restricts what I eat'; they had poorer GF dietary adherence compared with those who disagreed (p < 0.001). More than 72% of dietetic coeliac review provision provided content on improving access to GF foods and eating out of the home. A subpopulation of adults with coeliac disease have a greater need for support and guidance, which supports the viewpoint that limited resources should be targeted towards patients with the most need for support to enable successful disease management.

Mapping workforce contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals: a tool to enhance staff capacity and inspire action

The United Nations’ Agenda 2030 provides a framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve peace and prosperity for people and planet, now and into the future(1). The United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition emphasises that food and nutrition are key levers for optimising both human and planetary health and that individuals working in food, nutrition and health play an essential role in contributing to the SDGs(2,3). This project aimed to (i) map the work being done by staff and higher degree students at Monash University’s Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food and its alignment with the SDGs, and (ii) assess the impact of this process on workforce capacity to embed the SDGs in future work activities. Three mapping workshops; one pilot, one in-person and one online, were conducted (n = 28), beginning with a short expert-led seminar about the SDGs before participants engaged in an interactive activity to record their work activities (research, education or engagement) relating to the SDGs. Mapping data were analysed to determine which SDGs were being prioritised and in what type of activities. To determine the impact on workforce capacity, participants completed pre- and post-workshop surveys that assessed their knowledge of and confidence regarding the SDGs. From the three workshops, 129 work activities were described, each linked to one or more of the SDGs. Of those, 41% were education, 36% were research, and 23% were engagement activities. Work activities spanned all 17 of the SDGs, with the most commonly aligned being Goal 3 Good Health and Wellbeing (53% of work activities), Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities (37% of work activities), Goal 4 Quality Education (36% of work activities), Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (34% of work activities), and Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals (27% of work activities). The pre- and post-workshop surveys indicated increased staff knowledge and confidence related to the SDGs. The percentage of participants that could correctly identify the number of SDGs increased from 43% to 96%, and the percentage of participants that recognised the correct aim of the SDGs increased from 43% to 86%. Regarding confidence in talking about the SDGs, the percentage of staff who indicated that they ‘avoid talking about them’ or are ‘not confident’ decreased from 39% to 4%, and the number of staff who were confident talking about the SDGs ‘in general terms’ increased from 39% to 75%. Nutrition professionals are well-placed to support progress towards each of the SDGs. Workshops such as these provide an opportunity to increase workforce capacity to discuss, share and relate their work to the SDGs and provide a periodic pulse-check to identify opportunities for greater contribution to this urgent, global Agenda.

Awareness and level of digital literacy among students receiving health-based education

BackgroundBeing digitally literate allows health-based science students to access reliable, up-to-date information efficiently and expands the capacity for continuous learning. Digital literacy facilitates effective communication and collaboration among other healthcare providers. It helps to navigate the ethical implications of using digital technologies and aids the use of digital tools in managing healthcare processes. Our aim in this study is to determine the digital literacy level and awareness of our students receiving health-based education in our university and to pave the way for supporting the current curriculum with courses on digital literacy when necessary.MethodStudents from Acibadem University who were registered undergraduate education for at least four years of health-based education, School of Medicine, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Psychology, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biology, and Genetics were included. The questionnaire consisted of 24 queries evaluating digital literacy in 7 fields: software and multimedia, hardware and technical problem solving, network and communication/collaboration, ethics, security, artificial intelligence (A.I.), and interest/knowledge. Two student groups representing all departments were invited for interviews according to the Delphi method.ResultsThe survey was completed by 476 students. Female students had less computer knowledge and previous coding education. Spearman correlation test showed that there were weak positive correlations between the years and the “software and multimedia,” “ethics,” “interest and knowledge” domains, and the average score. The students from Nursing scored lowest in the query after those from the Nutrition and Dietetics department. The highest scores were obtained by Biomedical Engineering students, followed by the School of Medicine. Participants scored the highest in “network” and “A.I.” and lowest in “interest-knowledge” domains.ConclusionIt is necessary to define the level of computer skills who start health-based education and shape the curriculum by determining which domains are weak. Creating an educational environment that fosters females’ digital knowledge is recommended. Elective courses across faculties may be offered to enable students to progress and discuss various digital literacy topics. The extent to which students benefit from the digital literacy-supported curriculum may be evaluated. Thus, health-based university students are encouraged to acquire the computer skills required by today’s clinical settings.RegistrationThis study was approved by Acıbadem University and Acıbadem Healthcare Institutions Medical Research Ethics Committee (ATADEK) (11 November 2022, ATADEK registration: 2022-17-138) All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Informed consent was obtained from the participants.

DETERMINATION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' METAPHORICAL PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

&lt;p&gt;This study aims to reveal the metaphor that Turkish university students have about the concept of "climate change". The research was carried out with the students at Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Education (Geography 17, Biology 26, History 47) and Faculty of Health Sciences (Nutrition and Dietetics Department 74) in the spring term of 2021-2022 academic year. The research group consisted of a total of 164 students (124 female, 40 male). The data of the research were collected by qualitative research method and the research was organized in a phenomenological design. To determine the perceptions of the students about the concept of climate change, a semi-structured form containing the expression "climate change is like............because........." was prepared and the students were asked to complete the sentence given in the form. The data obtained were subjected to content analysis. Tables were created by calculating the number of metaphors in each category, how many students repeated the metaphor (frequency), and percentage values. When the findings of the research are evaluated, it is seen that a total of 96 valid metaphors were produced by the students. These metaphors were coded by considering their common features and 8 different conceptual categories were formed. Some of these categories are &lt;em&gt;"Climate change leading to uncertainty", &lt;/em&gt;"&lt;em&gt;Climate change as a symptom of danger/worry", &lt;/em&gt;"&lt;em&gt;Climate change as the beginning of change&lt;/em&gt;", "&lt;em&gt;Climate change as the&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;work of insensitivity", "Climate change as a factor forcing to get used to the new situation", "Climate change with a disruptive effect", "Climate change as a cause of despair", "Climate change as a source of different thoughts", &lt;/em&gt;and the&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;number of metaphor and frequencies of these categories are calculated and given in tables. When the findings obtained are analyzed, it is seen that the most recurrent metaphor for climate change includes concepts such as &lt;em&gt;human (f=5), mental state (f=4), life (f=3), a sick body (f=3), disappointment (f=3), cancer (f=3), extinction (f=4), moving (f=4), disaster (f=3), end of the world (f=3), and chaos (f=2). &lt;/em&gt;When the metaphor produced by the students in this study are analyzed, it is seen that the perceptions of university students about the concept of climate change are diverse and rich.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/soc/0660/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

O papel preditivo dos distúrbios alimentares e da atividade física no risco de diabetes: amostra de estudantes de nutrição e dietética

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eating disorder risk and physical activity level on diabetes risk in students enrolled in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 313 students enrolled in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at a private foundation university during the academic year of 2021-2022. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using the Information Form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale, and Finnish Type-2 Diabetes Risk Questionnaire. The data was analyzed using IBM®SPSS® v.26 statistical software. Results Among the Nutrition and Dietetics students, 91.1% were female, mean age was 21.42±3.62 years, and mean body mass ındex was 21.72±3.25 kg/m2. According to International Physical Activity Questionnaire assessment, 8.9% of the students were categorized as inactive. The SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale assessment revealed that 25.6% of the students were at risk of developing an eating disorder. The Finnish Type-2 Diabetes Risk Questionnaire assessment indicated that 90.7% of the students had a low to slight risk of diabetes. The results of the correlation analysis showed that as International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores increased, Finnish Type-2 Diabetes Risk Questionnaire scores decreased by 16.8% (p=0.003), and as SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale scores increased, Finnish Type-2 Diabetes Risk Questionnaire scores also increased by 28% (p&lt;0.001). The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that International Physical Activity Questionnaire significantly predicted Finnish Type-2 Diabetes Risk Questionnaire score, accounting for 3.8% of the variance, while SCOFF Eating Disorders Scale predicted Finnish Type-2 Diabetes Risk Questionnaire score, accounting for 8% of the variance (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that physical activity level and susceptibility to eating disorders have a significant effect on the development of diabetes mellitus.

Nutrition and diet programs are like fingerprints!

Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Department Assoc. Prof. Müge Arslan made important statements about rapid weight loss and shock diets.

Wrong diets do not make you lose weight, on the contrary, they make you gain weight!

Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Department Assoc. Prof. Müge Arslan evaluated the issue of rapid weight loss and shock diets.

Into the Unknown: The Shift in Key Service Performance Indicators after a Clinical Hospital Department Incorporates Virtual Service Delivery Options

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forced health care services to introduce virtual service delivery. Little is known about the impact on health care service delivery. Objectives This case study reports the impact of introducing remote access facilitating virtual service delivery. Methods Key performance indicators of health care service delivery (Nutrition and Dietetic Department, 26.9 full-time equivalents) were monitored over three 6-month periods. These periods were Phase 1 (pre-COVID restrictions), Phase 2 (zero tolerance to COVID), and Phase 3 (living with COVID). Virtual service delivery was initiated between Phases 1 and 2. Virtual service delivery days were defined as days worked virtually in lieu of leave. Results During Phase 2 and Phase 3, there were 87 and 188 extra days of virtual service delivery achieved and an opportunity cost saving of $26,000 USD and $56,000 USD, respectively. Leave hours reduced between Phases 1 and 2 (p &lt; 0.006; mean ± standard deviation [SD] 591 ± 213 and 222 ± 91) and maintained between Phases 1 and 3 (p &lt; 0.342; mean ± SD 494 ± 98) despite the pandemic. No adverse clinical events were reported. Professional quality of life scores were maintained. Conclusion Virtual service delivery through remote access provided many days of otherwise potentially lost productivity, maintained patient care with no adverse events, and sustained Professional Quality of Life despite pandemic challenges. Operationally, lessons learnt included the importance of positive team culture to working effectively, keeping teams connected and adapting different solutions to meet teams' requirements. Incorporating virtual service delivery options into a hospital clinical department showed performance stability across key service performance indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Popular diets cause very severe health problems!

Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Department Assoc. Prof. Müge Arslan evaluated the issue of healthy nutrition and diet.

A balanced vegan diet can be a nutritious diet!

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Instructor Kübra Şahin shared the tricks of creating a healthy vegan diet on the occasion of November 1, World Vegan Day.

‘Atom’ mixed fruit juice may boost immunity, but experts advise caution!

Üsküdar University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Instructor Hatice Nurseda Hatunoğlu made important statements about "atom fruit juices".

In Ramadan, 4 meals must be eaten including iftar and sahur!

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Instructor Kübra Şahin evaluated the topic of healthy eating in Ramadan.

Investigation of Knowledge and Awareness about Food Nanotechnology of Nutrition and Dietetics Students

In this study, it was aimed to examine the knowledge and awareness levels of nutrition and dietetics department students about food nanotechnology. This descriptive study was conducted with 242 students aged 18 and over who were studying at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.52.1% of the participants are 22 years old and over, and 66.9% have heard of the concept of food nanotechnology (nano food). In the study, it was determined that the level of knowledge and awareness about food nanotechnology was high among those who had heard of the concept of food nanotechnology (nano food) before (p=0.017) and those who had knowledge of food nanotechnology (nano food) (p=0.000). Those who think that smart packaging systems that provide information about the quality of packaged food during storage and transportation will not be useful (p=0.001), those who think that smart packaging methods will be preferred instead of traditional packaging techniques with the development of nanotechnology (p=0.000), have ethical concerns about the use of nanotechnology in the field of food. The level of knowledge and awareness about food nanotechnology was found to be high among those who thought that the use of nanotechnology in the field of food was very low (p=0.000) and those who stated that the perceived risk level was very low (p=0.000). It shows that nutrition and dietetics students have limited knowledge about the wide application of food nanotechnology.

Beslenme Ve Diyetetik Bölümü Öğrencilerinde Uyku Kalitesi, Fiziksel Aktivite, Diyet Kalitesi, Gece Yeme Alışkanlığı Ve Beden Kütle İndeksi İlişkisinin Değerlendirilmesine Yönelik Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Amaç: Üniversite öğrencileri arasında fiziksel inaktivite ve uyku kalitesi yetersizliği sık görülmektedir. Bu çalışma, üniversite öğrencilerinin fiziksel aktivite ve uyku kalitelerinin değerlendirilmesi ile diyet kalitesi ve gece yeme sendromu ile ilişkilerinin tespit edilmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Metot: Çalışma, Beslenme ve Diyetetik Bölümünde öğrenim gören yaş ortalaması 20.9±1.9 olan 100 öğrencinin katılımı ile yapılmıştır. Öğrencilere toplam 28 soru içeren anket uygulanmıştır. Çalışmaya katılan bireylerin boy uzunluğu ve vücut ağırlığı değerleri kullanılarak, beden kütle indeksi değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Ankette, “Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi-Kısa Form”, “Besin Tüketim Sıklığı Anketi”, “Besin Tüketim Kaydı”, “Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi, Gece Yeme Anketi” ve “Diyet Kalite İndeksi-Uluslararası” yer almıştır. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin % 69.0’unun minimal aktif olduğu, % 49.0’unun uyku kalitesinin kötü olduğu, % 6.0’sında gece yeme sendromu olduğu, % 55.0’inin diyet kalitesinin kötü olduğu görülmüştür. Enerji içeceği, kola, gazoz vb. ve meyve tüketim sıklığının uyku kalitesini azaltabildiği belirlenmiştir. Enerji içeceği, kola, gazoz vb., hazır meyve suyu, sütlü tatlılar, hamur işi tatlılar, margarin, cips ve patates kızartması tüketim sıklıkları ile gece yeme sendromu arasında pozitif yönlü korelasyon olduğu saptanmıştır. Uyku kalitesi ile fiziksel aktivite ve gece yeme arasında zıt yönlü ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Gece yeme ile beden kütle indeksi arasında pozitif yönlü ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Besin tüketim sıklığı, fiziksel aktivite ve gece yemenin uyku kalitesini % 57,4 oranında etkilediği belirlenmiştir. Diyet kalitesi ile uyku kalitesi arasında ilişki bulunmamıştır. Sonuç: Üniversite öğrencileri arasında yaygınlık gösteren uyku kalitesizliğinin ortadan kaldırılması için uyku kalitesini azaltan besinlerin tüketiminden kaçınılması ve fiziksel aktivitenin makul düzeylerde artırılması önem taşımaktadır.

Gender perception and dating violence attitude of women students of health sciences: a cross-sectional study

Objective This study was conducted to investigate the gender perception and attitude of dating violence of female undergraduate students studying in health sciences departments. Methods The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on the online platform between April and May 2022 with 276 midwifery and nutrition and dietetics department students studying at the health sciences faculty of a university. The data were obtained through the “Data Collection Form”, “Attitude Scales Toward Dating Violence” and “Gender Perception Scale (GPS)”. Results It was found that the GPS total score average of female students was 102.36 ± 10.73 and was a significant difference, and the attitude of women toward psychological violence applied by women in flirting and the attitude toward psychological and physical violence applied by men in flirting were found to be positively related to the mean of total scores. It was seen that GPS and the attitude of the woman toward psychological violence applied in flirting had a negative relationship with the mean score of the total score (p < 0.05). Conclusion It was seen that the gender perceptions of the students who participated in the study were positively high. It was found that as the age of the students increased, their gender perceptions increased. It was seen that the average attitude of the participants to dating violence was low, which may be related to their inability to define violence. Gender equality can be adopted for students at every stage of education.

An investigation of hand-grip assessment methods in order to standardise practice within TUH dietetic department

An investigation of hand-grip assessment methods in order to standardise practice within TUH dietetic department