| Estimated dietary folate intakes and consumer attitudes to folate fortification of cereal products in New Zealand
Diane M. Bourn and Rebecca Newton
Abstract This study investigated consumer knowledge and attitudes to the folate fortification of cereal products and estimated dietary folate intakes from a proposed fortification program. A nation-wide mail survey was conducted. One thousand and twenty-nine men and women were randomly selected from throughout New Zealand, of whom 761 (74%) people completed the questionnaire. Fifty-six per cent of women aged 25 to 44 years were aware of the relationship between folate and neural tube defects (NTDs). A high percentage (49%) of respondents ‘neither agreed nor disagreed’ with the statement that ‘folate should be added to bread’ indicating some uncertainty with this proposal. For the proposed fortification of flour (140 µg of folic acid/100 g), it was estimated that only 10% of women aged 25 to 44 years would consume over 400 µg of folate per day. There was a higher level of awareness of the relationship between folate and NTDs amongst the study population than in other countries. Although further research is required to determine if this awareness influences dietary folate intake and supplement use, dietary intake data from this study suggest that women are not high consumers of fortified breakfast cereals or fortified bread. Since many women of child-bearing age may not receive the recommended folate intake even if flour was fortified as proposed, there is an urgent need for an education program to encourage women to select folate-rich foods and to take supplements. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:10–17)
The educational and vocational role of peer assessment in the training and professional practice of dietitians
Lynne A. Daniels and Anthea Magarey
Abstract Critical outcomes of effective teaching and learning strategies are the extent to which students become self-directed learners. Learning is facilitated in an atmosphere that increases student autonomy and encourages students to participate in and take responsibility for their own learning. Self-assessment and peer assessment are important strategies to develop a self-critical attitude and the skills required for self-directed and independent learning. The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation and evaluation of peer assessment in the nutrition and dietetics awards at the Flinders University of South Australia. Peer assessment appears to be well accepted by nutrition and dietetic students and merits the additional investment of staff and student time. It builds confidence and encourages students to develop skills that underpin effective, self-directed, reflective practice mandated by the professional association’s self-regulatory program. On this basis, consideration should be given to inclusion of peer assessment in nutrition and dietetic training programs. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:18–22)
'Can I breastfeed here?’ The Blue Mountains breastfeeding initiative
Kristine Lobley and Emma Walker
Abstract Dietitians from the Blue Mountains chose the local environment as an avenue to identify and promote the level of support received from the local community, businesses and services for women to breastfeed in public. The main objective of the Blue Mountains breastfeeding initiative was to identify and provide recognition of the local businesses and services which provided an environment that was appropriate and supportive for breastfeeding. More than 217 businesses and services are now partners in this program, identified by an attractive ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ sticker displayed prominently on their premises. The sticker is promoted throughout the Blue Mountains to local mothers and assists them in identifying supportive public places for breastfeeding whilst away from home. Participating businesses and services are promoted on a free brochure that is widely distributed within the community. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:23–28)
A comparison of plasma cholesterol concentrations and diet among people having recently moved from a rural area to a regional city and those born there
Hedley G. Peach and Nicole E. Bath
Abstract Plasma cholesterol concentrations and diets of people who had recently moved from a rural area to a regional city were compared with those of people born there. Three hundred and thirty-eight adults, 67% of those eligible in a sample randomly selected from the electoral rolls of Ballarat, attended a cardiovascular risk factor screening clinic. Of these, 95 were born in Ballarat and 41 had moved there in the previous six years. The latter had a significantly lower average fasting plasma cholesterol concentration (5.12 ± 1.05 versus 5.65 ± 1.38 mmol/L), a lower average daily total fat intake (9.13 ± 1.78 versus 9.77 ± 1.89 g/1000 kJ), a significantly lower average daily saturated fatty acid intake (3.44 ± 0.97 versus 4.03 ± 0.98 g/1000 kJ), a significantly lower ratio of saturated to total fat (41.4 ± 6.6 versus 45.3 ± 7.6) and a significantly higher average daily fibre intake (3.43 ± 0.99 versus 2.93 ± 1.03 g/1000 kJ). Rural people moving to regional cities may be acquiring a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:29–32)
The Fat and Fibre Barometer, a short food behaviour questionnaire: reliability, relative validity and utility
Janine L. Wright and Jane A. Scott
Abstract The Fat and Fibre Barometer is a brief food behaviour questionnaire which can be self-administered and scored in under ten minutes. This paper reports on the reliability, relative validity and usefulness of the Fat and Fibre Barometer in assessing the habitual fat- and fibre-related food behaviours of 98 adult subjects. The reliability of the Fat and Fibre Barometer scale was determined by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (a = 0.86) and the subjects completed the Fat and Fibre Barometer on two separate occasions in order to examine test-retest reliability (r = 0.92). Relative validity was determined by comparing Fat and Fibre Barometer scores with the results obtained from a meal-based quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Weighted k values indicated fair to moderate agreement between Fat and Fibre Barometer score and the FFQ for percentage of energy from fat and fibre density (g/10 MJ) for both males and females. Pearson correlation coefficients between the Fat and Fibre Barometer score and the FFQ for men and women were 0.37 and 0.63 for total fat; 0.33 and 0.75 for percentage of energy from fat; 0.66 and 0.37 for total fibre; and 0.83 and 0.58 for fibre density (g/10 MJ). The Fat and Fibre Barometer is a short, easy to use dietary assessment tool with good reliability. The accuracy of the Fat and Fibre Barometer is acceptable for educational purposes and the format of the Fat and Fibre Barometer lends itself to providing rapid feedback about increasing intakes of fibre-rich fruit, vegetables and wholegrain cereals, and reducing fat intake. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:33–39)
‘Filling the gap’ – children aged between four and six years: sources of nutrition information used by families and kindergarten teachers
Veronica Graham, Kay Gibbons, Catherine Marraffa and Margaret Rozman
Abstract The objective of this study was to identify sources of, and gaps in, nutrition information and services used by parents of children aged between four and six years and their kindergarten teachers. This is the third part of a larger study of children from birth to eight years of age. Parents of 133 children aged between four and six years attending 12 kindergarten groups in Melbourne’s western metropolitan region completed a questionnaire. Kindergarten teachers (n = 26) working in the region completed a separate questionnaire. A sample of five teachers, participated in in-depth follow-up interviews. The results indicated that parents commonly accessed the family (74%), friends (48%), doctors (39%), television and radio (39%), magazines (31%) and own knowledge (30%) as sources of nutrition information. Maternal and child health nurses were used by 29% of these parents. Newspapers and magazines and brochures by food companies were cited by the teachers as their most consulted sources of nutrition information. Kindergarten teachers acknowledged that parents or carers viewed them as a source of nutrition information, though they did not see the provision of nutrition information to be a major part of their job. They indicated the need for a regional nutrition resource directory and nutrition information aimed at parents. Teachers requested information about food refusal, food additives, packaged snacks, allergies and drinks for distribution to parents as well as for their own professional use. Teachers also requested access to a dietitian for both referral and consultancy. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:40–45)
Viewpoint
Intervening in men’s nutrition: lessons from the GutBuster men’s ‘waist loss’ program
Garry Egger
Abstract Men fare worse than women on most indexes of health. Yet for reasons that are unclear, they attend doctors less and are less involved in their own health care, making health promotion aimed at this target audience difficult. The GutBuster men’s ‘waist loss’ program, which began in Australia in 1991, is now one of the largest men’s health programs of its type in the world. In developing the program from a struggling beginning, much has been learned about men, which could be of vital assistance to health authorities wishing to intervene in other aspects of men’s health. Several pertinent issues are discussed here with a view to proposing insights for further objective testing. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:46–49) |
Australian Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 57, Number 1, March 2000