Pan-African Conference 21 - 24 July 2002 Inter-Continental Hotel ...

Abstracts 10/22/02 11:26 AM Page 22
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Even with the advent of modern information technologies, the peer reviewed
journal remains an authoritative communication channel among
professionals. Most existing Nutrition Journals do not address issues that are
of specific interest to Africa. There is need to have journals where nutritionists
in Africa can share experiences relevant to Africa. A few attempts have been
made to set up such journals. This paper shares the experiences of setting up
the African Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences. Among the challenges
that were encountered are those of mobilising resources to meet the costs of
producing the journal. There were also problems of limited subscription
demand within Africa. There are still problems of efficient communication
among African based nutritionists and institutions even in this era of
electronic communication. There are language barriers such as those between
Anglophone and Francophone Africa. However, there are also interesting
opportunities which are fulfilling. Nutritional issues that are of relevance to
Africa have a place where they can be addressed. Conversely a number of
nutritionists who may not have had an avenue for publishing their work do
have one now.
ABSTRACT NO. 165. Distance Education: Masters in Nutrition Programme
Marais D, Herselman M, Blaauw R, Visser J, Labadarios D
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505,
South Africa
A unique, modularised, certificate-based Masters in Nutrition programme was
started via distance learning, by the Department of Human Nutrition,
University of Stellenbosch (Figure 1). This mode of learning offers the students
the opportunity to update their knowledge at an advanced level and/or to
complete a postgraduate degree according to what is possible/feasible for
them at any given time. The modularised Masters programme consists of four
Modules (6 months each), one of which, the fourth Module, takes the format
of a research project. As indicated in Figure 1, Module 3 has three options and
various study units can be chosen within each option. A manual (the “Reader”
and study guide) containing all the study material for each Module is
provided to each student soon after registration so as to overcome any
difficulties a student may experience in accessing the scientific literature. The
study guide for each Module also includes a baseline self-study activity in
order to ensure that each student is, as far as possible, brought up to the same
level of basic knowledge and guides the student through the module.
Additional written assignments have been purpose-designed for the rest of the
content of each Module and these make up the class mark for the module. A
3-hour examination is written at the end of the module. The programme is
completely presented via distance education and it includes Interactive TV
(ITV) and communication via e-mail and the Internet as well as
telephone/post.
Students hail from all over South Africa and internationally (USA, UK, Kenya
and Korea). There are currently 33 students registered for the first semester,
2002. A total of 21 students successfully completed their modules at the end
of the first year. Student dropout rates were attributed to the extra workload
of the post-graduate course together with full-time work commitments.
Students have provided positive feedback verbally and, most importantly,
suggested some improvements to the course, which were implemented in the
2002 programme. The programme content is revised every two years.
Figure 1. Modularised course structure.
Module 1
Nutritional status
assessment
Module 2
Nutritional
Epidemiology
Masters in Nutrition
Option A
Therapeutic
Nutrition
Module 3
Option B
Community
Nutrition
July 2002, Vol. 15, No. 2 SAJCN (Supplement)
Option C
Food Service
Administration
ABSTRACTS
Module 4
Research
project
ABSTRACT NO. 166. Postgraduate distance education in nutrition
Marais D, Blaauw R, Labadarios D
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505,
South Africa
The mission of the department on distance education is aimed at making the
University of Stellenbosch (US) accessible to a geographically dispersed and
diverse student population. Core values and behavioural norms such as
quality academic products, integrity in service rendering and accessibility
provide cornerstones for the University’s distance education endeavours.
Recently, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) has become
compulsory for all South African health professionals including dietitians.
CPD is education and training undertaken beyond the requirements for entry
into the profession of dietetics. As new information and technology become
available at a rapidly growing rate, dietitians must continually improve their
knowledge and skills, be open to new ideas and advances in the field of
nutrition and dietetics.
Eighty-five dietitians from all over South Africa attended a 2-day CPD course
hosted by the Department of Human Nutrition, US, in June 1999. The
dietitians were asked to complete an evaluation form of the course regarding,
amongst others, distance education. Of the 63 completed questionnaires, 57
(90%) showed an interest in distance education. In terms of information
technology (IT) facilities available to them, 23% had access to e-mail, 32% the
telephone, 38% postal services and 5% Inter-active television sessions (ITV).
The preferred mode of presentation of such courses was given as 32% e-mail,
64% the printed educational material and 4% ITV. In June 2001, the
department hosted the first distance education CPD course. Of the 165
dietitians that registered for the CPD course, 120 attended the traditional
lecture-based course, whereas 45 dietitians from more distant locations in the
country opted for the distance learning option. Delegates attended ITV
sessions at 6 different centres around South Africa. Relevant printed learning
material was posted to all delegates beforehand and a 3-hour ITV session was
held during which the key aspects of the course were covered. Dietitians
obtained CPD points for attending the ITV session and completing the
multiple-choice questionnaires based on the articles that had to be studied in
their own time. Evaluation forms for the course were received from the
majority of delegates. All comments were extremely favourable, motivating
the department to continue and expand this method of training. The
department plans another CPD distance education course to run parallel to the
traditional lecture-based course in June 2002.
ABSTRACT NO. 167. The design for a self-teaching nutrition web page
Pietersen CD, Labuschagne I, Du Plessis K, Woodley HM, Labadarios D
NICUS: The Nutrition Information Centre at the University of Stellenbosch;
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic
Hospital, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
The mission of the Nutrition Information Centre of the University of
Stellenbosch (NICUS) is the provision of up-to-date, credible and authoritative
information in order to promote a scientifically sound nutrition culture. This
proves to be a challenge in an era of information overload, with the lay public
interested in whatever draws their attention. This challenge extends to the
Internet, which has become a battlefield of ideas and information between the
scientifically sound and the all too present quacks. South Africa is not immune
to this global battle and it is within this background that this web page has
been developed.
The web page is to be a self-teaching tool that would provide credible
information to the lay public (particularly in South Africa) balanced with
stimulating visuals. The intention is to impact and capture the attention of the
viewer with full-colour visuals within a few seconds and then to create a
lasting impression with credible and practical information.
Currently the web page provides an introduction to basic nutrition and the
varied diet in a self-teaching unit that systematically provides information
about various nutrition concepts, how to make good food choices, how to
implement them, and how to monitor these choices.
Future goals are to expand the web page so that it becomes relevant to more
diverse populations yet remains appropriate to the user in terms of depth of
knowledge, practicality and application. The webpage will diverge into
various areas, focusing particularly on the lay public as the target population,
including adults and children.