Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Of Spirituality And The Health Promoting Behaviors Of Diet And Exercise Of African American Women, Deirdra Nicole Chester

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public health data show that African-Americans have not adopted health-promoting behaviors of diet and exercise. Spirituality, important in the lives of many African-American women, may be associated with health-promoting behaviors. This study was designed to determine how spirituality relates to health-promoting behaviors in African-American women. Burkhardt's theoretical framework for spirituality was adopted and measures were selected for the three elements of the framework: connectedness with self, others, and environment.

The study used a descriptive cross sectional correlational design to investigate the relationships of the independent variables of spirituality, sociodemographics, and BMI, to the dependent variables of diet and exercise, to …

Dietary Folate Intake Of Firefighters In Metro-Dade County And Their Risk For Cardiovascular Disease, Kathrine Berdebes

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to show variations of folate intake, folate food sources, and diet by age, gender, and ethnicity in Metro-Dade Firefighters and to also determine the prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity and history heart disease. Low folate status may play a role in cardiovascular risk via its effect on homocysteine metabolism. Firefighters (n=127) recruited from randomly selected fire stations completed food-frequency and socio-demographic questionnaires.

Significantly (p<.05) more African-Americans failed to meet at least 75% of the dietary reference intake (DRI) for folate than whites or Hispanics. There were significant differences in protein, vegetable, and meat intakes between age groups. Almost 78% of firefighters were overweight (BMI≥25). There were significant (p<.001) differences in BMI among ethnic groups. Older firefighters reported significantly (p<.05) more CVD risk factors than younger firefighters. Metro-Dade firefighters were found to be similar to the general US population in that most of the risk factors, overweight and obesity, high fat intakes, and low folate intake were modifiable and diet related.

The Effect Of Food Safety Education On The Knowledge Attitude And Behavior Of Foodservice Workers Of Inner City Public Schools, Lillian Craggs-Dino

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if food safety education influences food safety knowledge, attitude and behavior among inner city public school foodservice employees. Knowledge, attitude and behavior of an experimental group (n=22) was assessed before and after 3-hour food safety training and compared with a control group (n=10) that received no food safety training. We hypothesized that those who received food safety training would have improved knowledge, attitude and behavior towards food safety issues compared to those who did not receive training.

Results showed that food safety training significantly increased (p<0.001) the knowledge of foodservice employees compared to those who didn’t receive the training. However, the 3-hour training did not significantly influence attitude or practice of safe food-handling techniques. Education and consistent re-training, coupled with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, food-handier sanitation certification and frequent supervision may help to increase food safety awareness among foodservice employees.

Florida's Health Care Reimbursement For Outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy, Katherine Marie Cabrera

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe and inform registered dietitians (RDs) in the State of Florida what insurance companies are providing in terms of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) coverage.

A questionnaire was developed to encompass major MNT reimbursement stipulations such as policies, specific diseases coverage, specific Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and descriptors, use of the medical necessity letter and nutrition cost benefits analysis (CBA). The questionnaire, encompassing 27 plans (HMO, PPO, Indemnity, Medicare, Medicaid), also served as a MNT promotional tool for 11 top administrators from insurance companies (10 private, 1 government) around the State of Florida. …

The Palatability Of Monosodium Glutamate-Enhanced Vegetables As Rated By Cuban-American Older Adults At A Congregate Meal Site, Elissa A. Beltranena

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of using monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a means to increase palatability and prospective consumption of vegetables at a congregate meal site with Cuban-American clients. Thirty to 32 subjects participated in hedonic testing each day. MSG-enhanced (2 g MSG/500 g vegetable) and non-enhanced beets, string beans, carrots and peas were evaluated for palatability, preference and prospective consumption. Results showed that MSG significantly increased both palatability and prospective consumption of string beans (ps < .05) but not of the other 3 vegetables tested. These findings provide some evidence that MSG can be used to increase the palatability of vegetables served at congregate meal sites. However, these results suggest that older adults may not find the palatability of some vegetables to be improved by MSG and that optimal flavor enhancement cannot be achieved by adding the same amount of MSG to every vegetable.

Effects Of Offering Tropical Fruit Beverages On Fluid Intake Of Older Hispanic And Non-Hispanic Residents In A Long Term Care Facility, Raquel Castillo

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine how the availability of tropical fruit beverages, familiar to Hispanics, would affect fluid intake of Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents of a 120-bed nursing home. Beverage acceptance and intake were measured for three days with the following beverage offerings (including coffee): four fruit beverages usually served in the facility or two of the usual fruit beverages combined with two tropical fruit beverages. The presence of the tropical fruit beverages on the hydration cart significantly increased acceptance and intake in women but not men, regardless of ethnicity. Hispanic females chose and drank (ps < .01) more tropical fruit beverages than did their non-Hispanic counterparts. During the study residents consumed greater than six ounces of beverage 80% of the time and greater than ten ounces 57% of the time. Between-meal fluid intake in this population can be stimulated by offering generous servings (10-12 oz) of a variety of palatable beverages, including ethnic favorites.

The Impact Of Dieting Status And Restraint On Post-Exercise Energy Intake In Overweight Females, Cristina Visona Andersen

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of an acute bout of physical activity on postexercise energy intake (PE-EI) in overweight females who were dieting with high restraint (D-HR) and non-dieting with either high restraint (ND-HR) or low restraint (ND-LR). PE-EI at lunch and 12-hours after was compared on the exercise (E) and a nonexercise (NE) day.

There was a significant interaction (F _(2,33)= 4.12, p = 0.025) of dieting/restraint status and condition (E vs. NE day) on the 12-hour El. The D-HR ate 519 ± 596 kcal more on the E than on the NE day; while the ND-HR ate …

Factors Affecting Bmi And Hemoglobin Levels Of Mothers And Infants In Kuwait, Ahmad R. Al-Haifi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation or thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to dcc@fiu.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Diet As A Measure Of Acculturation In Diabetic And Non Diabetic Cuban Americans, Frances Dianne Asencio

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to establish baseline information on the way in which acculturation affects Cuban Americans' dietary habits. In addition, the study explored differences in post-migration food preference between diabetic and non-diabetic Cuban Americans. The study was a cross-sectional survey utilizing a convenient sample of Cuban Americans living in Miami-Dade County. One hundred seventy-eight first generation Cuban Americans completed the Multidimensional Acculturation Survey for Cuban Americans (MAS-CA) which included a Dietary Bidimensional Acculturation Scale (D-BAS). Food acculturation scores for Cuban and American food choices were calculated from the D-BAS. Overall, the mean Cuban food score (CFS) (31.8 …

Further Evidence For The Relationship Between Eating Frequency, Body Mass Index, And Physical Activity, Mona Jahjah Ashchi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between the frequency of eating, physical activity and Body Mass Index (BMI) was investigated. Seventy five women, aged 24 to 55, were recruited from Florida International University. Via interview, subjects provided information regarding demographics and habitual eating frequency over 24-hours, and completed both the Baecke Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity and the Health Insurance Plan of New York Questionnaire on Physical Activity. Pearson correlations and partial correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between eating frequency, physical activity, age, and BMI. Results revealed significant positive correlations between eating frequency and total physical activity scores, and leisure time …

Facing A Paradigm Shift In Professional Credentialing: Preparedness Of Registered Dietitians For Professional Development 2001, Nancy Collins

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the year 2001, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will begin a new process of recertifying Registered Dietitians (RD) using a self-directed lifelong learning portfolio model. The model, entitled Professional Development 2001 (PD 2001), is designed to increase competency through targeted learning. This portfolio consists of five steps: reflection, learning needs assessment, formulation of a learning plan, maintenance of a learning log, and evaluation of the learning plan. By targeting learning, PD 2001 is predicted to foster more up-to-date practitioners than the current method that requires only a quantity of continuing education hours. This is the first major change …

Job Satisfaction Of Dietitians In South Florida, Sonia M. Batista

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine job satisfaction of dietitians in South Florida and to identify significant differences in job satisfaction between dietitians working in traditional versus non-traditional settings.

A job satisfaction questionnaire was developed, validated, and mailed to dietitians in Palm Beach, Broward, Dade, and Monroe counties. Out of 600 questionnaires mailed, 203 surveys were returned and 187 were valid and analyzed statistically. Seventy three percent of subjects practiced in traditional and 17% in non-traditional settings. Eighteen percent of 187 subjects surveyed reported feeling dissatisfied with their jobs and 59% reported feeling satisfied. There was no significant …

Sensitivity And Specificity Of A Nutrition Screening Tool For Patients Admitted To General Medical And Surgical Services, Vanessa Cruz

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is standard practice in acute-care settings to screen patients upon admission to determine whether they need a nutritional assessment; however, there is limited information on the ability of the screening tools to detect patients at nutritional risk. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tool used at Jackson Memorial Hospital and (2) whether a new proposed tool would be more sensitive and specific. Dietitians screened patients upon admission using the existing and proposed tools (n=141). Sensitivity and specificity of these tools in identifying patients at nutritional risk was calculated. Mantel-Haenszel …

Elder Malnutrition: A Meta Analysis Of Studies Using The Nutrition Screening Initiative Determine Checklist, Carmen Teresa Brain Urrunaga

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To demonstrate the extent of elder malnutrition risk in this country, a meta analysis of 30 studies that used the Nutrition Screening Initiative's "DETERMINE Your Nutritional Health Checklist" was conducted. The studies were divided into three categories: Elder Populations in Healthcare Related Systems (HS), Elder Meal Program Participants (MP), and General Community Residing Elder Population (GC). HS was sub-divided into Hospital Inpatient/Clinic Outpatient and Long Term Care/Home Care. The MP population were identified as Congregate or Home Delivered meal participants. Overall, results indicate that 63% of elders are at moderate (32%) or high (31 %) risk of malnutrition. Home Delivered …

Effects Of Nutrition Education On The Nutrition Knowledge Of Future Aerobic Dance Instructors, Abbe Michelle Breiter

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effectiveness of nutrition education on the nutrition knowledge of future aerobic instructors was studied. Forty-seven subjects participated in the study. The experimental group (n=31) chose to and paid for a two-hour per week session of structured nutrition education for four weeks, the control group (n=16) did not. A nutrition knowledge test was completed by all subjects before and after the intervention. Results were analyzed for relationships between subject's nutrition knowledge and age, gender, educational background, income, and body mass index. No significant differences were found between the groups. The results showed that prior to any formal nutrition education, fitness …

Serum Transthyretin In Hemodialysis Patients : Relationship To Nutritional Status, Annmarie Duggan

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The validity of serum transthyretin as a nutrition assessment parameter in hemodialysis patients was investigated. Fifty-one subjects (39% male and 61 % female; 53% black, 28% white, 12% Hispanic, 7% Other) receiving hemodialysis for 30 24 months (mean SD) and a total of 36 26 months of renal replacement therapy were followed for six months. Serum transthyretin, albumin, BUN, creatinine, cholesterol, normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), KT/V, weight and 24 hour urine analysis were determined monthly. Etiologies of end stage renal disease were diabetic nephropathy (37%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (37%). glomerulonephritis (12%), polycystic kidney disease (4%), lupus nephritis (4%), other causes …

The Effect Of Total Parenteral Nutrition (Tpn) On Zinc (Zn) Retention In The Tissue Of Rats, Martha M. Chisholm

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Zn is regularly added to TPN solutions, however, requirements are poorly understood. This research investigated whether or not the route of Zn intake (oral vs parenteral) changes Zn concentration in rat tissues. Twenty-four male Fischer-344 rats were equally and randomly assigned to one of four groups (n=6): control (CON), baseline (BS), orally fed (OF), and intravenously fed (IV). After fifteen days of feeding, organs and sera were collected and analyzed for Zn by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Of the nine tissues analyzed, the Zn concentrations in the liver, kidney, and lung of the IV rats were significantly higher (p<1.l) than those of the CON, BS, and OF rats. Results indicated that rats fed intravenously with Zn displayed increased Zn concentrations in liver, kidney and lung tissues, and that the concentration of Zn in the serum may not reflect tissue Zn levels. This suggests that the route of Zn intake affects tissue Zn concentration.

Precompetition Dietary Practices Of Competitive Male And Female Bodybuilders, Janet Bond Brill

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A comprehensive analysis of precompetition dietary beliefs and behaviors of competitive bodybuilders has yet to be documented in the literature. The purposes of this study were (a) to quantify and document types of supplements competitive male and female bodybuilders consume, (b) to document how much money they spend on them each month, (c) to describe what dietary modifications and behaviors they follow in preparation for a contest and (d) to describe their nutrition beliefs associated with these habits. Three hundred and nine competitive male and female bodybuilders completed questionnaires regarding their precompetition dietary practices. It was found that bodybuilders consume …

The Effect Of Nutrition Education On The Nutrition Knowledge Of College Athletes, Maria Guadalupe Bermudez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between nutrition and athletic performance has become a topic of increasing interest in college athletics. This study assessed the effect of nutrition education on the nutrition knowledge and dietary adequacy of female and male college athletes through a pre-test/post-test, control group design. Six weekly lessons were offered to the experimental groups. For female athletes, a two sample t-test indicated significant differences on gain scores for the experimental group (p

Impact Of Nutrition Education On Knowledge And Eating Patterns In Hiv-Infected Individuals, Patricia Boulos

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and impaired or threatened nutritional status seem to be closely related. It is now known that AIDS results in many nutritional disorders including anorexia, vomiting, protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), nutrient deficiencies, and gastrointestinal, renal, and hepatic dysfunction (1-7, 8).

Reversibly, nutritional status may also have an impact on the development of AIDS among HIV-infected people. Not all individuals who have tested antibody positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have developed AIDS or have even shown clinical symptoms (9, 10). A poor nutritional status, especially PEM, has a depressing effect on immunity which may predispose an …

A Content Analysis Of Food And Nutrition Television Advertisements, Lorraine D. Bender

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Television (TV) reaches more people than any other medium which makes it an important source of health information. Since TV ads often offer information obliquely, this study investigated implied health messages found in food and nutrition TV ads. The goals were to determine the proportion of food and nutrition ads among all TV advertising and to use content analysis to identify their implied messages and health claims.

A randomly selected sample of TV ads were collected over a 28-day period beginning May 8, 1987. The sample contained 3547 ads; 725 (20%) were food-related. All were analyzed. About 10% of food-related …

Food And Nutrition Services In Bone Marrow Transplant Centers, Amy Dezenhall

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nutritional support for bone marrow transplant recipients is recognized as vital, yet little research has occured to determine the best method.

This study was designed to survey existing food and nutrition services in bone marrow transplant centers in the U.S. in order to determine similarities in the services provided among centers from which a model protocol could be established for such centers.

A survey instrument was developed and sent to all chief dietitians associated with BMT centers in the U.S, listed the International Bone Marrow registry, 1982. Items on the questionnaire included: background information on size and organization, nature of …

Discretionary Salt Consumption In Airline Food Service : A Feasibility Study, Kathleen E. Dierkes

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies have estimated total daily salt consumption in the U.S. at 10 - 14.5 grams, despite increasing public awareness and decreased usage by the food industry. To avoid excess governmental regulation to modify current salt intake, determination of the amount of salt currently being used in a discretionary manner is needed.

This study investigated the feasibility/limitations of a data collection technique to assess discretionary salt intake in in-flight meal service, Discretionary salt use by airline passengers was determined by weighing salt packets remaining on used meal trays. Results showed an average discretionary salt consumption of 167 milligrams/meal among passengers able …

Development Of An Instrument For The Evaluation Of Weight Reduction Advice In Women's Magazines, Sheryl H. Calish

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument to evaluate the weight reduction advice in popular women's magazines. An apparent proliferation of articles on weight reducation in the mass media and women's magazines have been critized as faddist by some professionals. Regardless of this concern, a standardized method of evaluating any diet remains noexistent.

To achieve the purpose the study was conducted in three parts: a Field Test, a Validity Study and a Reliability Study. An Article Evaluation form, which listed the negative characteristics of a faddist weight reduction article was constructed as the instrument. …

A Pilot Study: Result Of Menu Presentation System Change, Stella Manikas Copulos

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Attempts to modify dietary habits of individuals in order to improve their nutrition do not seem to have met with success. Patterns established by individuals appear to continue throughout their lifetime. Diet patterns are influenced by society, families, and peer groups.

From pre-school through adolescence environmental factors of influence are ever present. Influences may be the result of hereditary attitudes passed from generation to generation. However, the need for diet improvement seems primary. Research to discover methods or systems to affect such habits is needed from the science of nutrition.

The continued failure of man to produce food for the …