StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Human Nutrition - Methods of Dietary Analysis - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
As the author of the paper "Human Nutrition - Methods of Dietary Analysis" states, manual computation and analysis of dietary values are done by hand while being compared to food tables. No computer hardware and supplemental software or program is necessary to perform the analysis…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93% of users find it useful
Human Nutrition - Methods of Dietary Analysis
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Human Nutrition - Methods of Dietary Analysis"

 

Manual

Computer-Assisted

     

General Advantages and Disadvantages

§  Not affected by battery failure, computer error, or operator error (Ice, 2004).

§  Manual method generally is time-consuming, more prone to mistakes, less or equally accurate (Long, 2001) over the computerized method, and less preferred by users when computerized assistance is tested (Kari, Ruokonen & Takala, 1990).

§  Generally preferred over the manual method in terms of reliability, stability, accuracy, flexibility, data entry speed, and user preference, providing more reliable data analysis while committing fewer mistakes (Ice, 2004; Morris, 1994; Long, 2001; Kari, Ruokonen & Takala, 1990).

§  Disadvantage is mainly technical: battery failure, computer error, or operator error (Ice, 2004).

§  If not implemented properly, this will lead to its discontinuity to practice (Ram & Block, 1992).

Speed

§  Calculations can be laborious and time-consuming (Bassham, Fletchr & Stantin, 1984).

§  Calculations are fast; the process is rapid and shows printed-out results immediately (Probst et al, 2005; Danford, 1987; Smith & Lloyd-Still, 1983; Long, 2001), as computerized analysis can reduce coding time and total processing time (Sheppard et al, 1990).

Reliability

§  Errors from manual computations are anticipated.

§  Reduced intrinsic errors due to manual calculation. It provides freedom from errors that result in arithmetic drudgery (Shea et al, 1998; Danford, 1987; Bassham, Fletcher & Stanton, 1984; Kari, Ruokonen, and Takala, 1999). Error reduction can be as much as 39% (Sheppard et al, 1990).

Ease of Use

§  Dietary guidance in manual computation is frequently difficult to comprehend for those who are not nutrition professionals (Adelman et al, 1983). Computer literacy and typing skills, and knowledge of how computer programs work are no longer necessary.

§  Dietary analysis software might be generally easy to use than manual method (Probst et al, 2005; Danford, 1987; Smith and Lloyd-Still, 1983) but still varies from program to program (McCullough et al, 1999).

Pre-requisites

§  Requires adequate knowledge of the dietary guidelines (Adelman et al, 1983).

§  Requires the user to be computer-literate and have sufficient typing skills (Probst et al, 2005) since most dieticians lack awareness of the applicability of information technology to nutrition-related work (Bassham, Fletcher & Stanton, 1984).

Technical Issues

§  Not affected by power failures and shortages, computer hacks, computer viruses, and technical limitations like system requirements, software compatibility, and various features of the program.

§  Technical aspects of the program vary with each other (McCullough et al, 1999). Like other software, dietary analysis programs are vulnerable to computer hacks and viruses, plus the unavailability to use the software due to power failures or shortages.

§  Technical software problems might arise out of a large amount of data in food tables (Probst et al, 2005).

Cost

§  No additional cost in obtaining the program is needed other than obtaining copies of the food tables and the writing instruments for manual computations.

§  Computer programs entail costs to obtain one but vary from program to program (McCullough et al, 1999).

Potential Bias

§  Depends on the one doing the calculation.

§  There is potential bias if an interviewer is required (Probst et al, 2005).

Overall recommendation

§  The introduction of computerized systems on the manual method presents many advantages.

§  Inadequate computer literacy serves as a barrier for nutrition professionals to adapt to the technology. Should dietitians become aware and able to adapt to technological advances in dietary analysis, the advantages and disadvantages can be weighed without the influence of computer literacy.

§  Awareness of nutrition professionals of this technology should be considered.

§  Despite many advantages of computerized dietary analysis over the manual method, technical problems will limit its potential.

§  Knowledge of manual dietary analysis is recommended in case computerized systems are temporarily unavailable and/or the results are contested for accuracy and reliability.

§  More studies are warranted to implement the computerized dietary approach effectively so that it will not be discontinued from its implementation (Ram & Block, 1992),

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Human Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Human Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1572948-human-nutrition
(Human Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
Human Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1572948-human-nutrition.
“Human Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1572948-human-nutrition.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Human Nutrition - Methods of Dietary Analysis

Dietary and anthropometric analysis of Perth elderly women compared to national standards

One of the key reasons due to which this research is of extreme significance in recent times is because of the ever rising and looming graph of problems like obesity which are a direct outcome of the dietary intake an individual gets.... In its simplest terms and form anthropometry is defined as the measurement of the human individual.... It is quite an understood fact that the definition of the term might sound quite absurd when it is heard for the first time; however, it is important to understand that the science of anthropometry is widely used as a tool in physical anthropology primarily for the use and application of human physical variation....
17 Pages (4250 words) Essay

Proper Nutrition for Promoting Wound Healing in Elderly

The paper "Proper nutrition for Promoting Wound Healing in Elderly" supposes nutrition plays a major role in the wound healing procedure, as various nutrients have precise functions connected to wound healing.... Sufficient nutrition is also needed to sustain healthy skin integrity.... nutrition plays a major role in the wound healing procedure, as various nutrients have precise functions connected to wound healing.... Sufficient nutrition is also needed to sustain healthy skin integrity and elderly patients regularly go through delayed wound healing because of such nutrition deficiencies....
6 Pages (1500 words) Literature review

Diet Analysis

Class Title dietary analysis Due Date Food Intake A dietary analysis consists of many components that are considered to determine if a person is eating properly, making healthy choices, and observing recommended daily food allowances that will help maintain the necessary body's functions.... dietary analysis Due Food Intake A dietary analysis consists of many components that are consideredto determine if a person is eating properly, making healthy choices, and observing recommended daily food allowances that will help maintain the necessary body's functions....
3 Pages (750 words) Research Paper

Nutritional Therapy: Identifying Eating Habits and Malnutrition

The collected data is analyzed by a software program, Diet Organizer version 2, and depending on the data, the analysis has been made.... analysis of the Tables: As evident from the dietary data, I had a considerably higher intake of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, whereas, the calcium intake is considerably low.... The dietary history is a fair clue to the subject's nutritional habits and is very important in the nutritional assessment of any patient....
15 Pages (3750 words) Assignment

Human Nutrition and the Digestive System

Snacking and low intake of dietary fiber can add a lot of sugar, fat, and excess calories (Willett 2002: 59-68).... This work called "human nutrition and the Digestive System" focuses on the main dietary problems and concerns, Mary's case, and its peculiarities.... The author takes into account symptoms that Mary may be suffering from due to her vitamin and mineral deficiencies, her food preparation food combination methods....
6 Pages (1500 words) Case Study

Benefits of Good Nutrition for People with Mental Illness

, evidence has been provided that numerous mental health conditions are greatly affected by dietary factors.... The paper "Benefits of Good nutrition for People with Mental Illness" states that the intake of a nutritional diet prevents several diseases and promotes healthy life.... Considering the need of the hour and the importance of nutrition for patients suffering from mental illness and learning disorders, change is required in the balanced nutritional diet chart....
12 Pages (3000 words) Literature review

Evaluation of Dietary Assessment and Practical Anthropometry Methods

The paper "Evaluation of dietary Assessment and Practical Anthropometry Methods" analyzes nutrients that are either lower or over-consumed by individuals or groups.... he analysis presented in the charts shows varying intakes for both 24-hour recall and the weighed food.... dietary assessment is therefore important for us since it gives us more information about whether we are meeting our requirements thus the information generated from dietary assessment vital for positive improvement....
9 Pages (2250 words) Lab Report

Food and Nutrition in the Society

This paper "Food and nutrition in the Society" investigates the contribution online sites that have information on the right food and nutrition has on the general members of the society such as the overweight, the sick, and sports personalities.... The topics that are frequently accessed are widespread and food and nutrition-related issues have not been left behind.... Key among the topic was food and nutrition which is important to the communities in the United State....
11 Pages (2750 words) Research Proposal
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us