Abstract
In order to clarify the picture of support activities by the registered dietitians and dietitians (RDs) who were dispatched by the Japan Dietetic Association to Kesennuma City, Ishinomaki City and Iwate Prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake, we analyzed the activity reports submitted by them. We extracted the information about the places and types of the activities they conducted from the description in the “daily log” column, in which a reporter described the details of the day's activities. We classified the places and types of the activities into 7 and 10 categories, respectively, and then counted their frequencies by regions. It seemed that “Meeting” was very important to share information with other supporters, as the frequency of “Meeting” was high in every region. In Kesennuma City and Iwate Prefecture, “Assessment of people other than the vulnerable” was frequently performed at shelters. Of its components, the percentage of “dietary/nutritional assessment” was the highest. RDs should have skills to conduct a dietary survey, menu planning and mass cooking for evacuees. In support activity during a disaster, they are expected to meet the changing needs in the affected area flexibly, and fully utilize their expertise, in close coordination and cooperation with other professions and support groups.
