Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-dvmhs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-20T15:43:23.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Users’ Perspective on Revised Simple Simulator for Calculating Nutritional Food Stocks in Preparation for Large-scale Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 September 2024

Tamaki Takeda
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Nutritional Science, Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
Noriko Sudo*
Affiliation:
Natural Science Division, Faculty of Core Research, Ochanomizu University, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
Ikuko Shimada
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition, University of Kochi, Kochi, Kochi, Japan
Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka
Affiliation:
Section of Global Disaster Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Settsu, Osaka, Japan
*
Corresponding author: Noriko Sudo; Email: [email protected].

Abstract

Objective:

In 2020, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare developed an Excel workbook entitled “Simple Simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters.” In September 2021, it was modified as the “Revised Simulator” to plan food stockpiles in normal times and post-disaster meals. This study aimed to further improve the Revised Simulator.

Methods:

Eight group interviews were conducted with 12 public health dietitians, 9 disaster management officers, and 2 public health nurses from September to November 2021. They provided nutritional support during previous disasters or prepared for predicted future disasters. Qualitative analysis was conducted on interview transcriptions, then the Revised Simulator was improved based on their feedback.

Results:

The Revised Simulator was improved to the “Simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks and meals for large-scale disasters” with significant changes such as adding specific tags in the food list to denote long shelf life and elderly-friendly foods, as well as displaying bar graphs to visualize the required and supplied amounts of energy and nutrients.

Conclusions:

The Revised Simulator was upgraded for planning and assessing stockpiles and meals in ordinary conditions and emergencies. This study will contribute to enhancing the quality and quantity of food supplies during disasters.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

van Aalst, MK. The impacts of climate change on the risk of natural disasters. Disasters. 2006;30(1):5-18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Association, Sphere. Sphere handbook: humanitarian charter and minimum standards in humanitarian response. Geneva: Sphere Association; 2018.Google Scholar
Kubo, A, Ohara, N, Enshouiwa, M, et al. A nationwide survey on nutritional assistance and preparation measures adopted by municipal registered dietitians during large-scale disasters. Jpn J Public Health. 2020;67(5):344-355.Google ScholarPubMed
Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Nutritional reference values to be used as near-term targets for the planning and assessment of meal provision in evacuation shelters. Published 2011. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000089299_00005.html. Accessed February 3, 2024.Google Scholar
Kozaki, N, Sudo, N, , Takeda E. Thought and evaluation for stockpiled foods by the female university students who spent two days eating stockpiled foods. J Jpn Disaster Food Soc. 2017;5(1):19-30.Google Scholar
Sudo, N, Sawaguchi, M, Yoshiike, N. Changes in food intakes and required nutrients under stress: to support disaster victims with food assistance. J Jpn Diet Assoc. 2010;53(4):39-45.Google Scholar
Takeda, E, Sudo, N, Kozaki, N. Evaluation of a university’s stockpiled foods by students who lived on them alone for two days. J Jpn Disaster Food Soc. 2018;5(2):29-37.Google Scholar
The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000089299_00004.html. Accessed February 3, 2024.Google Scholar
The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. User guide for the “Simple simulator for calculating nutritional food stocks in preparation for large-scale disasters. 1st ed. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000622993.pdf. Accessed February 3, 2024.Google Scholar
Sudo, N, Tsuboyama-Kasaoka, N, Shimada, I, et al. 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. AIMS Public Health. 2022;9(4):734-757.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sudo, N, Shimada, I, Tsuboyama-Kasaoka, N, et al. Revising “Nutritional reference values for feeding at evacuation shelters” according to nutrition assistance by public health dietitians based on past major natural disasters in Japan: a qualitative study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(19):10063.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Takeda, T, Sudo, N, Tsuboyama-Kasaoka, N, et al. Meal plans for meeting the reference values using food items available in shelters. BMC Nutr. 2023;9:73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sato, H, Sudo, N, Takeda, T, et al. Revision of “nutritional reference values for feeding at evacuation shelters” and model menus: a qualitative study. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2024;43(2):157-166.Google ScholarPubMed
Cabinet Office. Annual report on the aging society (summary) FY2023. Published 2023. https://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/whitepaper/w-2023/gaiyou/pdf/1s1s.pdf. Accessed February 3, 2024.Google Scholar
UCL Institute for Global Health. NutVal.net. https://www.nutval.net/. Accessed February 3, 2024.Google Scholar
Mori, S. Future prospects for emergency food stockpiling. J Jpn Disaster Food Soc. 2016;3(1):13-18.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Food stocking guide to prepare for disasters. Published 2019. https://www.maff.go.jp/j/zyukyu/foodstock/attach/pdf/guidebook-3.pdf. Accessed February 3, 2024.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. Food stocking guide to prepare for disasters for persons requiring special care. Published 2019. https://www.maff.go.jp/j/zyukyu/foodstock/guidebook/pdf/need_consideration_stockguide.pdf. Accessed February 3, 2024.Google Scholar