An abstract of a study by Nahikian-Nelms et al evaluating the use of standardized patients as an additional educational approach to prepare students for supervised practice is presented. The Medical ...Dietetics Program at Ohio State has begun the use of a clinical skills laboratory and standardized patients (SP). In preparation for this experience, students complete several case studies designed from the medical record, physician's history and physical and laboratory reports. For the SP experience, students access the medical record electronically prior to conducting the initial nutrition encounter with the trained standardized actors. The assessments, interviews and counseling sessions are video-taped for evaluation by both faculty and student.
The purposes of this study were to measure the nutrition knowledge and attitudes toward nutrition of caregivers in child care programs and relate these to the behaviors of caregivers as they interact ...with children at mealtime. The relationship between the independent variables: caregiver nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward nutrition, years of teaching experience, prior nutrition training, and level of education was assessed with the dependent variable, caregiver behavior.
One hundred and thirteen child care providers participated by completing a 20-item nutrition knowledge test and a 27-item attitudinal inventory. These instruments were pilot tested twice establishing internal consistency reliability at .69 and .67 respectively. A panel of experts established content validity. Caregiver behavior during the lunch meal was observed using the Mealtime Behavior Checklist by one of four trained observers. Inter-rater reliability was established at 98%.
The participants in this study were approximately 22 years of age, 70% had an Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree, and had taught less than three years in early childhood programs. Most had received previous nutrition training and documented the source of training as college course work. The mean score for nutrition knowledge was 10.95 out of a possible 20 points. Results indicated some important misconceptions about the science and application of nutrition. Overall attitudes toward nutrition were positive with a mean attitudinal score of 69.36 out of 81. Overall, caregivers demonstrated appropriate behaviors during mealtime achieving a mean score of 6.59 out of 10.
It is important to note that there were differences between the attitudes stated and behaviors observed. There was a statistically significant (r=.23,p=.01) correlation between attitudes toward nutrition and caregiver behavior; between nutrition knowledge and caregiver behavior (r=.18,p=.04); and between nutrition knowledge and nutrition attitudes (r=.37,p=.0001).
This study is one of the first to attempt to describe the relationship between caregiver attitudes toward nutrition, nutrition knowledge and caregiver behaviors. By examining current caregiver behaviors and comparing them to optimal recommendations we can develop appropriate and acceptable routes for nutrition training.
LEARNING OUTCOME: To increase leadership and community organization skills, and practical application of didactic knowledge for dietetic students.
Additionally, to expand campus and community ...awareness of the role of the dietitian. Since the inception of the Southeast Missouri State University Student Dietetic Association (SDA), the emphasis of this organization's role has been on community and campus service. All dietetic majors have the opportunity to develop leadership, management and organizational skill through SDA. These skills and competencies have been enhanced through the successful completion of numerous and diverse activities. Activities within the community have included: 1) Children's nutrition fair at a McDonald's playland; 2) Health fair at a local elementary school (K-6); 3) The National Dairy Council's “Body Walk” for a rural elementary school; 4) Inservice training for local elementary teachers on such topics as The Food Pyramid and US Dietary Guidelines; 5) Volunteer grocery store tours for The American Heart Association; 6) Nutrition presentations for local girl and boy scout troops and a state residential treatment facility; 7) Assisting with education programs offered through the local hospitals, and 8) Providing education on basic cooking skills and normal nutrition to indigent clients of a mental health agency. Campus-wide involvement has centered around providing nutrition education and assessment in the Student Recreation Center and the Employee Wellness Program. Additionally, the SDA has sponsored “Nutrition Peer Educators” which provides individual nutrition education and group presentations upon request on campus. National Nutrition Month (NNM) is a focus of several activities. “Nutrition Olympics” places student teams in competition using nutrition education and physical activity as its basis. Displays in the library, student center, and various academic buildings promote nutrition awareness and education during NNM. Also, in collaboration with Student Health Programs, the SDA has presented nutrition education through hands-on activities and displays. The SDA has been a successful route for students to gain practical application of their classroom knowledge while providing much needed community service.
LEARNING OUTCOME: To increase leadership and community organization skills, and practical application of didactic knowledge for dietetic students.
Additionally, to expand campus and community ...awareness of the role of the dietitian. Since the inception of the Southeast Missouri State University Student Dietetic Association (SDA), the emphasis of this organization's role has been on community and campus service. All dietetic majors have the opportunity to develop leadership, management and organizational skill through SDA. These skills and competencies have been enhanced through the successful completion of numerous and diverse activities. Activities within the community have included: 1) Children's nutrition fair at a McDonald's playland; 2) Health fair at a local elementary school (K-6); 3) The National Dairy Council's “Body Walk” for a rural elementary school; 4) Inservice training for local elementary teachers on such topics as The Food Pyramid and US Dietary Guidelines; 5) Volunteer grocery store tours for The American Heart Association; 6) Nutrition presentations for local girl and boy scout troops and a state residential treatment facility; 7) Assisting with education programs offered through the local hospitals, and 8) Providing education on basic cooking skills and normal nutrition to indigent clients of a mental health agency. Campus-wide involvement has centered around providing nutrition education and assessment in the Student Recreation Center and the Employee Wellness Program. Additionally, the SDA has sponsored “Nutrition Peer Educators” which provides individual nutrition education and group presentations upon request on campus. National Nutrition Month (NNM) is a focus of several activities. “Nutrition Olympics” places student teams in competition using nutrition education and physical activity as its basis. Displays in the library, student center, and various academic buildings promote nutrition awareness and education during NNM. Also, in collaboration with Student Health Programs, the SDA has presented nutrition education through hands-on activities and displays. The SDA has been a successful route for students to gain practical application of their classroom knowledge while providing much needed community service.
The intensity and effort of bodybuilding training suggest an overinvestment in body shape and physical appearance, which has been suggested to be a risk factor for developing eating disorders. The ...purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of eating disorder tendencies among a sample of collegiate male bodybuilders (BB, n = 68) and controls (C, n = 50) (nonbodybuilders), using the Eating Disorders Inventory 2 (EDI-2). T tests were used to test the hypothesis that bodybuilders' scores would be higher than those of controls. The mean scores on the EDI-2 did not indicate the presence of eating disorder tendencies for either group. Controls scored significantly higher than bodybuilders on the Body Dissatisfaction scale. Results indicate that when the EDI-2 is used, college-age male bodybuilders are not shown to be more likely to have eating disorders than a group of college-age male controls.
Male bodybuilders report high-protein, low-fat hypocaloric diet patterns similar to those seen in college females with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The intensity and effort that bodybuilders put ...into their training suggests obligatory-type behavior, not unlike compulsive eaters and/or compulsive alcohol drinkers, or those with eating disorders. This study surveyed volunteers who identified themselves as competitive or recreational bodybuilders regarding eating behaviors using the Eating Disorder Inventory 2 (EDI2), which has been assessed to be a reliable and valid instrument to screen for tendencies toward eating disorders. Male subjects (n=65) were recruited through announcements in two midwestern and one western university weight lifting clubs, announcements strategically placed on each campus, and phone and/or personal contact by the researchers. A control group (non-bodybuilders/non-weight lifters) (n=41) was recruited from students in non-athletic classes. Subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire composed of questions from the Eating Disorders Inventory 2 (EDI2) and an additional pool of questions. In addition to descriptive statistics, a t-test was used to examine relationships (p ≤ .05) between independent variables (control vs bodybuilder) and dependent variables (EDI2 scores), and between independent variables. EDI2 scores for bodybuilders were significantly different between the subjects and control groups on the Interpersonal Distrust scale. Since this comparison was based on average results for the groups, it does not rule out the possibility that some of the subjects exhibit characteristics typical of eating disorders. It is also possible that the EDI2 is not an appropriate scale to measure eating disorder tendencies in males, especially bodybuilders.
