Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences - Papers

Integrating information literacies into an undergraduate nursing programme

M. C. Wallace — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:42:28 PDT

The development of support for a more research-based approach to care has created the imperative for nursing education to tackle the issue of information literacy. Information literacy means the ability to locate, evaluate and apply information in critical thinking and problem solving. This paper outlines and provides a rationale for a curriculum-integrated information literacy programme, implemented in the pre-registration Bachelor of Nursing course at the University of WoHongong, NSW, Australia. It also describes a multidimensional evaluation process for determining nursing students' growth in cognitive and affective domains. Results of the programme evaluation will be featured in a future paper.

Toward nutrition education for adults: A systematic approach to the interface design of an online dietary assessment tool

Y. C. Probst — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:13:00 PDT

To support nutrition-related behavioural change, a dietitian can offer tailored educational programmes based on patients' specific dietary behaviours. A model has been developed to integrate learning technologies into this process. This tool allows patients to self-report their dietary intake, creating awareness, and to receive individually tailored dietary advice from their General Practitioner (GP) via a dietitian, to assist with change. This article examines how a step-wise approach to the interface design has allowed a multidisciplinary approach to automated dietary assessment to be undertaken. Concentrating on the identification of core foods and on the questionnaire format using an outline of the diet history interview, the design features of the programme used focus groups with end users and in-depth discussion between the multidisciplinary team. The development of an online self-administered dietary assessment programme must ensure outcome goals are met whilst upholding the simplicity of the interface design to allow a larger number of patients access to the programme. Original journal article available here

Computerized dietary assessments compare well with interviewer administered diet histories for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the primary healthcare setting

Y. C. Probst — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:25:51 PDT

Using a context-based case-control trial, 41 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized into four groups to complete dietary assessments (computerized or interviewer administered) at 0, 2 and 8 weeks and food records at 0 and 2 weeks. Repeatability of reported energy, total fat, saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids between the computerized and interviewer administered methods were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA. Paired t-tests and Pearson's correlations determined relative validity of the assessments.

Over- and underreporting of energy intake by patients with metabolic syndrome using an automated dietary assessment website

Y. Probst — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:08:16 PDT

Under- and overreporting of dietary intake in a face-to-face context is related to age, gender and body mass index. The use of computer technology in dietetic practice is restricted to analysis of nutrient data rather than assessment of the diet. DietAdvice, a website developed to allow patients with metabolic syndrome to self-report their dietary intake, has been developed in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Patients are recruited by their general practitioner, and use the website, and the data are electronically fed to a dietitian for an individualised dietary prescription. The aim of the present study is to describe the reporting status of patients using a pilot test of the website from November 2004 to October 2005, and determine relationships to body mass index, gender and age. Reported energy intake (EI) was compared with predicted basal metabolic rate (BMR). Patients were classified as underreporting if EI : BMR <1.35 and overreporting if EI : BMR >2.4. Chi-square and ordinal regression analyses were used to determine relationships to patient characteristics. Two hundred patients were recruited, of whom 57 had missing data or did not complete the assessment. Of the remaining 143 patients, 32.3% underreported their intakes, 21.7% overreported their intakes, and 46.2% were on target with their reporting. No relationships were found for age, gender or body mass index. Findings suggest that computerised dietary assessment may encourage patients to report with less bias than in a verbal dietary assessment when compared with the literature.

Relationships between patient age and BMI and use of a self-administered computerised dietary assessment in a primary healthcare setting

Y. Probst — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:09:07 PDT

The objective of this paper was to determine relationships between patient age and BMI and use of a self-administered dietary assessment website in the primary healthcare setting. Chi- square and ordinal regression models were used to determine the relationships between age and BMI and computer experience, ownership, and usage from 188 patients using a self-administered dietary assessment website over 12 months. One hundred and twenty-five (66.5%) female and 63 (33.5%) male patients used the website. A total of 72.9% were overweight (BMI425 kg/m2). Advanced/intermediate computer users were 17.1 times more likely to own a computer than beginners or patients who had never used a computer. Patients with a higher BMI were 1.9 times (P � 0.04) more likely to use the computer at home than in the GP practice, and patients aged o35 years and using the computer at home were 16.8 times more likely to be advanced computer users than patients aged 456 years using the computer in the GP practice. Finding innovative ways for overweight patients in the primary healthcare setting to report intakes may include the use of computers. Overweight patients may feel greater comfort having their diet assessed in their own home and any social desirability bias related to food and/or the interviewer may be decreased due to the limited face-to-face contact required.

Identification of food groups for use in a self-administered, computer-assisted diet history interview for use in Australia

S. Burden — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:12:43 PDT

To develop a set of food groups for use in a self-administered, computer-assisted diet history interview for use in Australia by combining foods into groups so as to minimize database error in the macronutrient values for the groups. The program needs to appropriately balance the level of detail used with the load on respondents and errors associated with categorization of foods into groups.

Video recorded participant behaviours: the association between food choices and observed behaviours from a web-based diet history interview

Y. C. Probst — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:51:31 PDT

Automation of dietary assessments allow participant behaviour to be captured by video observation. They also allow clinicians to identify areas which effect reporting accuracy. This observational study describes the differences in behaviour according to the type of foods selected by participants using a dietary assessment website encompassing diet history methodology.

Prison foodservice in Australia - systems, menus and inmate attitudes

P. Williams — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:08:12 PDT

This paper presents results from three studies in 25 custodial facilities in three Australian states, including nutrient analyses of menus and focus groups exploring inmate attitudes. Both cook-fresh and cook-chill production systems are used. Non-selective cycle menus of 4-6 weeks are common but inmates can supplement meals by purchase of additional food items ('buy-ups'). Menus included adequate variety and met most nutritional standards, with the possible exception of fruit. The sodium content of menus is above recommended levels. Protein, fibre, vitamins A, C, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, iron and zinc were more than adequate, and the percentage energy from fat is close to or meets national recommendations. Focus groups identified 16 themes, including meal quality, food available at 'buy-ups', cooking facilities, and concerns about possible food safety risks associated with inmates storing food in cells. Many complaints were about factors not under the control of the foodservice manager.

Regulatory issues and functional health claims for bioactive dairy compounds

P. Roupas — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:44:15 PDT

Dairy foods and ingredients have a natural advantage over new/novel foods, from a regulatory viewpoint, because they are generally considered as "traditional" foods, that is, there is a long history of human consumption. However, the regulatory landscape on adding bioactive ingredients, whether from dairy streams or from non-dairy sources, into dairy foods is rapidly evolving, and the dairy industry will need to be aware of potential regulatory challenges, within the countries they wish to market their products.

Current dietetic practices of obesity management in Saudi Arabia and comparison with Australian practices and best practice criteria

A. Almajwal — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:42:34 PDT

Objective: To describe the dietetic practices of the treatment of obesity in Saudi Arabia and compare this with best practice criteria and the practice in Australia.Methods: Anonymous questionnaires were completed by dietitians in Saudi Arabia. The topics included barriers to obesity management, demand and level of service and strategies and approaches used for weight management. Best practice scores were based on those used to assess Australian dietitians.Results: 253 dietitians participated in the survey. Of these, 175 (69 %) were involved in the management of obesity. The best practice score for Australian dietitians was slightly but significantly greater than the scores of Saudi dietitians (mean 41.6 vs 38.8; p <0.001), (median 43 vs 39). There was also a significant correlation between the best practice score and years of experience (r = 0.26, p <0.001). The most common assessment approaches were assessment of BMI (87%) and exercise habits (81%) while the most common strategies for obesity management were; dietary total fat reduction (92%) and increase incidental daily activity (92%). The major barrier for establishment of a weight management clinic reported by 49% of participants was inadequate resources. Conclusion: Saudi Arabian dietetic practice for the management of obesity does incorporate most best practice recommendations, but some specific elements are rarely used.