A Comparative Study of Duties and Job Satisfaction of Dietitians (Nutrition Teachers) in Kindergarten Types in the Daegu Area

This study investigated the general characteristics, career status, meal provision status, and job performance of 62 dietitians and nutrition teachers working in kindergartens in Daegu, South Korea. The analysis was conducted based on the type of kindergarten and job positions, with the following results. The age distribution showed that dietitians in public kindergartens were mostly in their 40s (52.2%), whereas those in private kindergartens were predominantly in their 30s (38.5%). Overall, the average age was significantly higher in private kindergartens (p<0.05). Regarding job positions, public kindergartens had a significantly higher proportion of nutrition teachers (43.5%) compared to private kindergartens (17.9%) (p<0.05). In additionally, significant differences in the career duration prior to current employment were observed, with dietitians in public kindergartens having more extensive experience (p<0.05). The salary structure also varied significantly: dietitians in public kindergartens were fully funded by the educational office (100%), while those in private kindergartens received mixed funding support (p<0.001). Public kindergartens also offered better working conditions, with 91.3% providing a dedicated office for dietitians, compared to just 17.4% in private kindergartens (p<0.001). In terms of job performance, the number of meals provided daily for children was significantly higher in public kindergartens (p<0.05), and public kindergartens also offered more meals for staff members (p<0.001). Nutrition teachers carried more diverse job responsibilities compared to dietitians, particularly in tasks such as nutrition education and meal distribution (p<0.05). Dietitians in public kindergartens were more involved in menu planning, food ordering, and facility management than those in private kindergartens (p<0.01). Regarding job satisfaction, dietitians in public kindergartens expressed lower satisfaction with their job duties (p<0.05) and kitchen facilities (p<0.001) compared to their counterparts in private kindergartens. On the other hand, the overall job satisfaction remained low across both types of kindergartens. Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between age and both career length and expected working period (p<0.01). Furthermore, job satisfaction was positively correlated with factors such as satisfaction with meal costs, job assignments, and overall satisfaction with the role of dietitian (p<0.01).