Abstract

The impact of a weekly nutrition newsletter upon the eating behavior of hospital employees was examined in this study. Ten percent (175) of employees who eat in a hospital cafeteria were surveyed before, and three months after, the initiation of a nutrition newsletter. Each survey had two parts. The first part was designed to gather demographic information and to assess employee satisfaction with the cafeteria. The second part was a self-reported eating behavior questionnaire comprised of seventeen questions with three possible scores for each response. Information gathered in part one of the first survey was used to make changes to the cafeteria menu. Surveys were analyzed using the SSPS program for statistical data analysis. Respondents in both surveys indicated fat was the most important nutrient to label and ranked the value of labeling cholesterol, calories and sodium in descending order. Thirty eight percent of the respondents indicated they did not read the newsletter. Ofthose who did read it, overall scores were higher. Scores improved most significantly around eating less meat, eating more pasta, and eating more fruits and vegetables. Other scores improved around eating less fat, more fish, less cured meats, increased whole grains, less fatty cheese, and more dried beans. Insignificant changes occurred around the intake of milk, eggs, organ meats, fatty sweets, fatty snacks, fried foods and frozen desserts. Lowest eating scores were reported by employees who worked in service-type jobs.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Food habits--Effect of newsletters on; Hospitals--Employees--Nutrition

Publication Date

1996

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Food, Hotel and Tourism Management (CAST)

Advisor

Whitlock, Carol

Advisor/Committee Member

Kmiecinski, Elizabeth

Advisor/Committee Member

Cerio, Barbara

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: TX357 .C76 1996

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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