Journal List > Korean J Community Nutr > v.24(6) > 1140553

Shin and Kim: Food Allergy-related Awareness and Performance of Dietitians at Children's Hospitals in Korea: Comparison of Certificate Possession among Clinical Dietitians

Abstract

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.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General characteristic of subjects

kjcn-24-512-i001

1) n (%)

2) multiple responses

Table 2

Nutrition counseling related characteristics of subjects

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1) n (%)

Table 3

Food allergy related knowledge of subjects

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1) Mean ± S.D.

Table 4

Food allergy related perception of subjects

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1) n (%)

Table 5

Food allergy related performance on patient's meal management of subjects

kjcn-24-512-i005

1) n (%)

2) OFC, oral food challenge

Table 6

Food allergy related performance on food allergy nutrition counseling of subjects

kjcn-24-512-i006

1) n (%)

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TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Hye-Ran Shin
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9434-7379

Sook-Bae Kim
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8385-3687

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