Attitudes toward using “Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters” among local governmental personnel and public health dietitians in Japan: An explanatory mixed methods study

Noriko Sudo; Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka; Ikuko Shimada; Keiichi Sato; Akiko Kubo; Noriko Sudo; Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka; Ikuko Shimada; Keiichi Sato; Akiko Kubo

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2022051

AIMS Public Health

2022, Volume 9, Issue 4: 734-757. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2022051

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Attitudes toward using “Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters” among local governmental personnel and public health dietitians in Japan: An explanatory mixed methods study

1.
Natural Science Division, Faculty of Core Research, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112–8610, Japan
2.
Section of Global Disaster Nutrition, International Center for Nutrition and Information, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162–8636, Japan
3.
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition, University of Kochi, Kochi City, Kochi 780–0515, Japan
4.
School of Network and Information, Senshu University, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa 2148580, Japan
5.
Kagawa Nutrition University, Sakado City, Saitama 350–0214, Japan

Received: 15 August 2022 Revised: 27 October 2022 Accepted: 02 November 2022 Published: 11 November 2022

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare compiled an Excel sheet — “Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters” (Simulator). We examined the level of recognition and use of the Simulator by local governments and identified the points for its improvement. In stage 1, we surveyed local government personnel who participated in the “Workshop for nutrition assistance during large-scale disasters” held in November 2020 (n = 458; 313 responded) with an online questionnaire on the use of the Simulator and associated issues. Stage 2 involved group interviews with 15 public health dietitians who had been involved in food assistance during past natural disasters to identify points for improving the Simulator and the problems with food assistance during natural disasters. In stage 1, 233 responders (74.4%) confirmed their awareness of the existence of the Simulator. While 85 individuals (36.6%) used the Simulator, 63 individuals (74.1%) confirmed that they would use it in the future to plan and evaluate local government stocks. In stage 2, multiple comments regarding the Simulator's applicability and improvement in a realistic situation were collected. In order for the administrative staff in charge of disaster management to understand the nutritional importance of stockpiling main/side dishes, it was suggested that specific combinations of foods that meet the required amounts should be shown and that visualization using food products and the number of people covered by stockpiled foods may be easier to understand than pure nutritional values.
- food stockpile,
- nutrition assistance,
- Japan,
- natural disaster,
- public health dietitian
Citation: Noriko Sudo, Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka, Ikuko Shimada, Keiichi Sato, Akiko Kubo. Attitudes toward using “Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters” among local governmental personnel and public health dietitians in Japan: An explanatory mixed methods study[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2022, 9(4): 734-757. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2022051

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Abstract

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare compiled an Excel sheet — “Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters” (Simulator). We examined the level of recognition and use of the Simulator by local governments and identified the points for its improvement. In stage 1, we surveyed local government personnel who participated in the “Workshop for nutrition assistance during large-scale disasters” held in November 2020 (n = 458; 313 responded) with an online questionnaire on the use of the Simulator and associated issues. Stage 2 involved group interviews with 15 public health dietitians who had been involved in food assistance during past natural disasters to identify points for improving the Simulator and the problems with food assistance during natural disasters. In stage 1, 233 responders (74.4%) confirmed their awareness of the existence of the Simulator. While 85 individuals (36.6%) used the Simulator, 63 individuals (74.1%) confirmed that they would use it in the future to plan and evaluate local government stocks. In stage 2, multiple comments regarding the Simulator's applicability and improvement in a realistic situation were collected. In order for the administrative staff in charge of disaster management to understand the nutritional importance of stockpiling main/side dishes, it was suggested that specific combinations of foods that meet the required amounts should be shown and that visualization using food products and the number of people covered by stockpiled foods may be easier to understand than pure nutritional values.

Abbreviations

DRIs

Dietary Reference Intakes

MHLW

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants for their cooperation. This research was funded by a Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Health and Labour Sciences Research Grants, Japan “Grant Number 20FA2001”.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflicts of interest in this paper.

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