Human Nutrition - Methods of Dietary Analysis - Essay Example

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),