Education Commons^™

Sarcopenia And The Importance Of Resistance Training And Protein-Rich Diets For Prevention Of Muscle Loss In Older Adults: A Literature Review And Informational Pamphlet, Madison Steele

Honors Theses

The growing prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults as well as youths has prompted further research aimed at developing effective preventative measures and treatment plans. Sarcopenia is often thought to occur solely due to aging, but several other factors contribute to progressive muscle loss. Previous research studies have found an effect of physical activity and dietary protein levels on the risk of developing sarcopenia as well as its onset age. This study aims to review existing knowledge in the field to compile an extensive list of sarcopenia causes and methods of prevention. The main causes identified in this review are …

Evaluating The Effect Of Garden-Based Education On Young Learners’ Preferences For And Willingness To Try Healthy Food, Sierra Gregory

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

Childhood obesity in American children has tripled in the last 20 years, and 85% of current healthcare spending is linked to diet-related diseases. The consumption of highly processed foods is linked to these trends and makes up more than half of an average American youths’ diet. Reducing the consumption of highly processed foods in children’s diets can be addressed, in part, by addressing childhood neophobia (willingness to try new foods) associated with whole foods like fruits and vegetables. Influence over behavioral areas such as nutrition and in early childhood is essential to long-term sustained health, and garden-based interventions shows promise …

Nourishtank: An Innovative Program On Solving Hunger, Palak Gupta, Ashley Sullivan, Kristin Hoch, Lea Palmer, Jocelin Gibson, Mateja Savoie-Roskos, Heidi Leblanc

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

NourishTank, a Shark Tank-style event, saw students propose food and nutrition insecurity solutions. Twenty-eight students formed 11 teams, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. The winning idea, 'Farm2Fork Gone Mobile,' earned $1,000 toward their proposed project. NourishTank, through partnerships and media, highlights student-driven efforts combating food insecurity and raising awareness.

A Nutritional Intervention To Improve Body Composition In Adolescent Athletes, Michael Ryan, Rosemary E. Borgerding, Kimberly L. Oliver

Journal of Athlete Development and Experience

This study assessed the effectiveness of a sports nutrition intervention designed to improve body composition in 25 high-school male athletes over a 12-week period. Employing a mixed-methods approach within a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design, the intervention integrated nutrition education with the provision of food. Quantitative results revealed significant reductions in body fat percentage and fat mass, and an increase in fat-free mass. Qualitative insights highlighted the untapped nutritional potential of adolescents and emphasized the importance of accessibility and simplicity in driving compliance. The findings suggest that targeted nutritional interventions can positively impact adolescent athletes' body composition. The study underscores the …

Assessing The Reliability, Internal Consistency, And Sensitivity Of A Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire For Four-Year-Old Pre-K Children, Lin Wang, Karla Cortez, Brenda Rodriguez, Joseph Reyes, Moises Cisneros, Elizabeth Alanis, Zasha Romero, Lisa Michelle Belzer Salinas, Juan López Alvarenga, Roberto Treviño-Peña

Research Symposium

Introduction: Assessing nutrition knowledge in four-year-olds, a developmental stage marked by limited attention spans and varying comprehension abilities, is challenging with traditional methods. A reliable test is pivotal for establishing a foundation for future health interventions. We evaluated a 13-question nutrition and healthy habits test in Pre-K4 children to assess reliability and sensitivity to detect differences.

Methods: Calculations included Cronbach's alpha, kappa coefficient, McNemar analysis by item, and Bland-Altman plots for test-retest differences. Mixed model regression assessed the questionnaire's sensitivity by sex and association with age. Item response theory (IRT) models were employed, generating latent abilities for students and individual …

Public Policy And Advocacy In The Dietetics Curriculum: Challenges And Opportunities, Jessica Garay, Meghan Donnelly, Amy Herman, Kathryn Lawson, Sarah Martin, Leah Reed

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and other health professionals should be involved in advocacy efforts related to food access and health care. However, education about, and opportunities to actively participate in, public policy are often limited for dietetics students. The goal of this project was to identify how dietetics programs meet ACEND standards relating to public policy in their current and/or accredited program. Methods: An online survey was sent to dietetics faculty at U.S. higher education institutions. Survey questions focused on how programs currently meet ACEND standards for public policy or plan to meet standards in their dietetics program. Respondents were …

Incorporating Experiential Learning And Reflection Related To Sustainable Food Systems In Undergraduate Dietetics Courses, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller, Kara Quigg, Cassidy Hanner, Iris Puthoff, Diana Cuy Castellanos

Journal of Dietetic Education

Objective: Knowledge and competence in sustainable food systems is a priority in dietetic programs and outlined in program accreditation standards and standards of practice for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). However, limited literature exists on how students are learning about sustainable food systems. The purpose of this study was to explore dietetic student experiences and perceptions after the inclusion of a farm-based experiential-learning activity. Methods: A qualitative approach was utilized to explore student reflections following their experiential-learning with sustainable food systems via university-based farms. Students completed sustainable food systems modules and completed five hours on the university farm. Students then wrote …

Student Perceptions Of An Undergraduate Nutrition Peer Mentoring Program, Sarah Hudnall, Rayanna Becker, Laura Meza Esparza, Sara Sanders, Ann Diker

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Peer mentoring programs help students navigate challenges and stressors in their undergraduate education. There is minimal research on the effectiveness of these programs in nutrition and dietetics. Objective: The objective was to explore the perceptions of student mentors and mentees in an undergraduate nutrition peer mentoring program. Design: This qualitative research study utilized thematic analysis of student reflection papers. One hundred students were contacted via email to provide consent to review reflection papers. Reflection papers were collected from 33 students: 11 mentees and 22 mentors. Papers were imported into NVivo qualitative analysis software and coded for themes. Participants: Thirty-three …

Challenges Of Competency Management For Dietetics Program And Internship Directors: An Application Of Design Thinking, David Gaviria, Elizabeth Chen

Journal of Dietetic Education

Objective: Dietetics education transitioned to competency-based education (CBE) in July 2022. Despite its benefits, managing competencies may be a challenging aspect of CBE for dietetics program and internship directors (PDIDs), yet it is unclear what specific aspects of competency management are difficult. Using design thinking, this study sought to capture the impact recent CBE implementation had on PDIDs by identifying specific pain points (i.e., challenges) related to competency management. The results of this work serve to document such pain points and may be used to generate solutions to address or eliminate the pain points. For example, this research can support …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of A Hybrid Competency-Based Education Program In Dietetics, Kristen Heitman, Stephanie M. Fanelli, Jennifer A. Garner, Kristen M. Roberts, Marcia Nahikian-Nelms, Julie Kennel, Christopher A. Taylor

Journal of Dietetic Education

As requirements for entry-level dietitians advance to the master’s degree level, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics has published a Future Education Model (FEM). At present, FEM utilizes Competency-Based Education (CBE) for optional program implementation at early adopter demonstration sites. A limited number of CBE programs exist within the field of dietetics, and there is little published literature on its use in this arena. The present study leverages focus groups with students and interviews with faculty and preceptors to evaluate use of a novel CBE program in dietetics and explore factors that facilitate or hinder implementation of …

Table Of Contents, Editors' Message, M Elizabeth (Beth) Miller, Diana Cuy Castellanos

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Improving Nutrition Screening Practice In The Hospitalized Heart Failure Patient Population, Amanda J. Bourgeois

DNP Projects

Background: Heart Failure is a disease known to affect nearly 6.5 million adults in the United States. Characterized by recurrent hospitalizations, heart failure significantly contributes to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in the United States and worldwide. Because malnutrition is prevalent in the heart failure population, healthcare providers must perform nutritional assessments on admission to intervene in the case of malnutrition, prevent deterioration, and improve patient prognosis. Without intervention and early identification of malnutrition, heart failure hospitalizations will remain a significant problem.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of an evidence-based educational program for cardiac …

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

Revisiting The Master Food Volunteer Program: Examining How To Enhance Nutrition Education In The United States, Stacey Viera, Lindsey Haynes-Maslow

The Journal of Extension

America’s diet-related illness crisis intersects with a lack of nutrition literacy, nutrition security, and systemic inequities. The Cooperative Extension Service’s (CES) national infrastructure could potentially provide equitable access to quality nutrition education in the US utilizing a Master Food Volunteer (MFV) model. This research brief examined preliminary evidence for the MFV model as a support for CES agents and paraprofessionals, and results show a paucity of evidence. Further research and a pilot program with pre-established measures for health-related knowledge and behaviors could elucidate the model’s potential to increase equitable access to evidence-based programming, nutrition, and implementation guidance.

Time, Money, Or Knowledge: What Factors Are Associated With Implementing Youth Cooking Programs?, Alison C. Berg, Nancy O. Taylor, Courtney S. Brown, Silvia Q. Giraudo

The Journal of Extension

Research suggests participating in youth hands-on cooking programs, like those offered by Extension and 4-H, can improve nutrition behaviors and reduce the risk for obesity. We surveyed [STATE] Extension professionals (n = 127) to explore factors (e.g., employee characteristics, resources, county demographics) related to offering youth hands-on cooking programs and curricula used. Over 2/3 of participants offer programs and reported creating their own curriculum. More years of experience, having received Extension Specialist training, and increased confidence were positively related to offering these programs. Results suggest training could increase confidence and program implementation and standard curricula may be needed.

Convenience Over Nutrition For Recreation League Youth Sport Team Snack And Mealtime Choices, Morgan Ashley M.S., R.D., Tony Weaver Ph.D., Andrew Ramsey M.S., Lauren Haldeman Ph.D.

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Fifty-six percent of school-aged children participate in team sports, yet there is limited evidence on how participation in youth sports impacts the dietary behaviors of participants and their families. Our team surveyed parents and caregivers of children participating in recreation league youth sports (n = 178) to assess the foods and beverages offered as team snacks and factors that influence team snack choices. Juice was the most popular beverage, and crackers were the most popular snack reported by parents. Convenience, followed by cost and child preference, were the most frequently reported factors influencing team snack choices. Survey items also included …

Bertumbuh Berkembang: Modul Pemberian Makan Bayi Dan Anak (Pmba), Hikmah Kurniasari

Pengembangan Profesional

Pemberian Makanan Bayi dan Anak (PMBA) yang optimal akan meningkatkan kesempatan hidup dan pertumbuhan anak; juga daya tangkap untuk menguasai keterampilan serta pengetahuan yang mereka perlukan sebelum memulai pendidikan di tahun-tahun awal sekolah. Tidak hanya bagi bayi dan anak, pemenuhan gizi yang baik juga amat penting bagi ibu hamil dan menyusui. Selain penjelasan lengkap seputar PMBA dan kesehatan ibu hamil/menyusui, modul ini juga menjelaskan kepercayaan lokal yang kepercayaan lokal yang terkadang menimbulkan misinformasi dan menghambat akses bagi ibu, bayi, dan anak untuk mendapatkan nutrisi yang dibutuhkan. Modul ini akan bermanfaat bagi kader layanan kesehatan (Posyandu) untuk menyampaikan informasi yang tepat …

Bertumbuh Berkembang: Aktivitas & Lembar Evaluasi—Modul Pemberian Makan Bayi Dan Anak (Pmba), Hikmah Kurniasari

Pengembangan Profesional

Bagian lampiran dari Modul PMBA ini berisikan ide aktivitas untuk dilakukan oleh kader Posyandu beserta orang tua/pengasuh anak, lembar evaluasi, serta refleksi modul untuk tiap-tiap bab. Lampiran ini juga dilengkapi dengan arahan untuk melakukan curah pendapat, diskusi kelompok, juga latihan kasus.

Short-Term Improvement In Self-Perceived Knowledge And Weight Bias Following A 15-Week Course On Pediatric Obesity, Rosanna P. Watowicz, Harrine Ramesh

Journal of Dietetic Education

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs)are an integral part of weight management teams; however, previous research indicates that RDNs may hold weight-related biases. Additionally, there may be a gap between what RDNs learn about weight management during their education and training and the competencies that RDNs should achieve before working in weight management. The objective of this study was to examine whether a 15-week graduate course on pediatric obesity led to a short-term increase in self-perceived knowledge of 13 Obesity Medicine Education Collaborative competencies, as well as a short-term decrease in weight bias. Nutrition graduate students enrolled in the course completed a …

Effectiveness Of Simulation-Based Learning On Clinical Competence In Dietetics Students: A Narrative Review, Claudia W. Scott, Rena Zelig, Diane L. Rigassio Radler

Journal of Dietetic Education

Clinical supervised practice experiences offered through dietetic internships have historically been among the most challenging to obtain. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the scarcity of these experiences and forced dietetics education programs to offer alternative experiences in the absence of direct patient care opportunities. Simulation-based learning experiences (SBLE) or objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) are one method of providing these alternative options, and if effective, could be routinely incorporated into dietetics education. This review evaluates five original research articles to determine the effectiveness of simulation-based learning on perceived or observed clinical competence in dietetic students. The findings of the studies unanimously …

Dietetic Students’ Changes In Attitudes After Participating In Online Interprofessional Education, Kelly Jackson, Terri L. Kurz, Mary Marian

Journal of Dietetic Education

Interprofessional education (IPE) is an accreditation requirement and an important component of training for future registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and access to quality IPE is often limited in online programs. An online IPE module was developed to provide dietetics students the opportunity to build collaborative skills with students in other healthcare training programs. A research study was designed to answer the following research question: How and to what extent does participation in an online IPE module impact online dietetics students’ attitudes of interprofessional practice? Participants were dietetics students enrolled in an upper-division online dietetics course. Data gathered included a retrospective …

Undergraduate And Graduate Students’ Retrospective Perception Of Flipped Learning In Dietetics Curricula, Rachel L. Vollmer, Teresa Drake

Journal of Dietetic Education

Most studies investigating flipped learning fail to assess how student perceptions of flipped learning may change once the class is complete, and students have a chance to reflect on the experience. Follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the sustainability of the benefits from flipped learning among students and how they feel it prepares them, if at all, for future classes and/or their professional lives. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore how graduate and undergraduate dietetics students retrospectively perceive a course that used flipped learning 2 years after they completed the course. Two focus groups with undergraduate (n=5) …

The Impact Of A Graduate-Level Applied Research Course On Graduate-Level Nutrition Students’ Research-Related Perceptions, Attitudes, And Knowledge, Alexandria Caljean, Kaitlyn M. Eck

Journal of Dietetic Education

Nutrition professionals report low levels of research utilization and engagement. This study explored the associations between completion of an applied nutrition research (capstone) course and students’ research-related perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge. Nutrition graduate students at a university in Pennsylvania completed an online survey at the beginning and end of a semester. The survey assessed perceptions of research participation and application, attitudes regarding research, and self-efficacy for conducting research, engaging in evidence-based practice, and collaborating on research. Students in a capstone course (n=17) learned about applying research in the field and conducted a research project. Non-capstone students (n=11) were not in …

A Cross‐Sectional Survey Of Research Involvement And Interest Among Graduate Dietetics Students, Courtney Wedemire, Rebecca Brody, Joachim Sackey, Laura Byham-Gray

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Dietitians are not frequently participating in or leading research. Cultivating greater research interest and involvement starts with dietetics education, but little is known about dietetics students’ research involvement and interest. This study examines relationships between research involvement and interest among graduate dietetics students. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey design incorporating participant characteristic data, the Practice-Based Dietitian Research Involvement Survey (PBDRIS), and the modified Interest in Research Questionnaire (IRQ) tools; 89 of 327 (27.2%) graduate dietetic students from 3 US universities were included. Participant characteristics, PBDRIS scores, and IRQ scores were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Relationships between variables …

Table Of Contents, Editors' Message, Editorial Board, Diana Cuy Castellanos, M. Elizabeth Miller

Journal of Dietetic Education

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of A Biometric Screening Program And Wellness Coaching Program In A Hospital Employee Wellness Center, Carl Gastanes

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Wellness programs are an emerging priority among organizations concerned about employee wellness and productivity. Data from Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) revealed that in 2019 there were 1,690 employee visits to the ER due to chronic diseases; 30% were classified as ER sick visit and 40% of employees who visited the ER had no primary care provider. Many companies use biometric screening and health risk assessment to measure the health of their employees. The purpose of this improvement project was to implement a biometric screening program (BSP) that included wellness coaching to improve the health outcomes of LIJMC …

Advancing College Food Security: Priority Research Gaps, Matthew J. Landry, Emily Heying, Zubaida Qamar, Rebecca L. Hagedorn-Hatfield, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Cara L. Cuite, Victoria A. Zigmont, Kendra Oonorasak, Susan Chen

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Despite over a decade of both quantitative and qualitative studies, food insecurity among US college/university students remains a pervasive problem within higher education. The purpose of this perspective piece was to highlight research gaps in the area of college food insecurity and provide rationale for the research community to focus on these gaps going forward. A group of food insecurity researchers from a variety of higher education institutions across the United States identified five thematic areas of research gaps: screening and estimates of food insecurity; longitudinal changes in food insecurity; impact of food insecurity on broader health and academic outcomes; …

Learning Documentary Film Production By Doing, Erin Lucille Grasty

Journalism

No abstract provided.

How Registered Dietitians Can Prevent Foodborne Illness In Long Term Care Facilities, Amanda Albright

Undergraduate Research Conference

The role of a Registered Dietitian (RD) in long-term care facilities (LTCF) is to maintain the nutritional status of their patients by building appropriate diets, advocating for the patient with their doctors, ensuring proper caloric intake, and providing patient education on the relationship between a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle (2022, RD Nutrition Consultants, LLC). Before a RD is able to help ensure proper nutrition for the patient they must the make sure the meal was safely prepared as well as obtained and will not cause any unintentional harm to the patient by causing a foodborne illness. Countless hours …

Baking Without Gluten: Maximizing Nutrition Without Compromising Appeal, Callie Dunkerson

Undergraduate Research Conference

The purpose of the current study was to determine the appropriate adjustments needed to transform an ordinary muffin recipe into gluten-free (GF) muffins made with flaxseed meal (FM). Two batches of muffins were made, but all-purpose flour was replaced with FM, rice flour (RF), and xanthan gum in the experimental recipe. Participants conducted a sensory evaluation on both muffins. The GF muffin tasted similar to the control (C) but did not align with the C texture. This study illustrates the impact of GF flour components on baked goods and evidences the ability to create healthful and delicious alternatives for individuals …