Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

Region IV-A CALABARZON

Division of Cavite City

Cavite City

EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

June 27, 2012

ACTION RESEARCH ON THE USE OF MICROSOFT EXCEL PROGRAM FOR

COMPUTING AND CLASSIFYING BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) FOR THE

NUTRITIONAL STATUS REPORT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AT DEPED

CAVITE CITY

ABSTRACT

The nutrition of the child is one of the most important aspects that enable them to

study properly and perform their duties within and outside of the school. Health once

neglected, can greatly affect the performance of the child in his class. Attendance

particularly on absences is the most evident result of malnutrition in students. One of the

programs of DepEd is the school feeding program for undernourished students. The

student that is classified as “wasted” or “severely wasted” are the priority target of this

program. The tool used to determine if the student is undernourished is the nutritional

status report. This survey is performed from the beginning (June to July) and end

(February to March) of the school year.

This study has determined the effectiveness of the computer program developed

in Microsoft Excel that will automatically compute the age, body mass index (BMI) and

classify it according to the five categories namely; severely wasted, wasted, normal,

overweight and obese.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The study on the nutritional status of Filipino public school children can be traced

back on May 19, 1979 as indicated in the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC)

memorandum no. 130 s. 1979 for which the School Health and Nutrition Centre

conducted a research on the nutritional status of Filipino children throughout the thirteen

(13) regions as the basis and evaluation of the impact of the School Health Nutrition

Program. They assess the nutritional status of the children using their height and weight.

On February 7, 1980, a follow-up study was conducted in lieu with the MEC

memorandum no. 33 s. 1980. The objective is to compare the nutritional status taken

from June 1979 and March 1980 still by getting the height and weight of the student.

On July 3, 1995, in virtue of the DECS Order no. 41 s. 1995, the Department

adopted the revised 1985 Weight and Height Reference Standard for Filipino Children

developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute and the Philippine Pediatrics

Society in the assessment of the nutritional status of the children, in order to assess the

magnitude of malnutrition in a community/population group.

On March 25, 2003, the Department released DepEd Order no. 21 s. 2003

entitled “The use of the International Reference Standard (IRS) in determining the

Nutritional Status (NS) of Filipino Children”. It states that the IRS shall be used to

conduct the nutritional assessment of the children in which the nurses shall be fully

responsible for the conduct of such assessment at the start (June to July) and end

(February to March) of the school year. Teachers are enjoined to assist in the

assessment, more specifically on the weight and height of children below 10 years of

age. The use of IRS in the assessment of Nutritional Status (NS) reflects the maximum

growth potential of children without limiting the competitive potential within the

boundaries of their country. The reports of the NS of children shall be submitted to the

School Health and Nutrition Centre before the 15th of October for the baseline data; and

15th of April, of the following year for the endline data. The revised Nutritional Status

Report Forms (NSRF) instructions on how to use the revised form and the International

Growth Tables shall be used for ready reference and possible replication at the local

level.

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Division of Cavite City is composed of twelve (12) public elementary school

and two (2) secondary schools. According to the interviews conducted on the division

medical staff and selected teachers on both elementary and secondary schools, the

researcher found out that the nutritional status report is quite a bothersome task to

performed for two basic reason; (1) Computation is mostly done manually or by

calculator and, (2) Classifying the BMI of the student is quite inconvenient for the

teachers for they have to look on a table of values to determine the BMI classification of

the student. Both accuracy and readiness of data is affected due to the constraints

encountered in preparing the said report.

The abovementioned problem has led the researcher to develop a computer-

based program using Microsoft Excel that will automatically compute the age, body

mass index (BMI), classifies and summarizes the BMI of the student.

III. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study has been conducted on Porta Vaga Elementary School for the

elementary level. The schools have been strategically selected for the researcher is the

current parent supervisor/coordinator for the elementary school.

Porta Vaga Elementary School consists of four hundred eighty three (483)

students. The total number of teacher-respondent was sixteen (16) from the said school.

All teacher-respondents have used the software program developed from

Microsoft excel to determine the age, body mass index (BMI), classification and

summary of the students’ BMI.

IV. ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS RELATED TO SURVEY

The instrument used in the data gathering is a questionnaire-checklist for the

teacher-respondents. The questionnaire for the teacher-respondents contained three

major parts:

Part I is for the Teachers Profile.

Part II which differentiate the duration or time taken by the respondent to finish the

Nutritional Status Report using Manual, Semi-Manual and Computerized method

Part III in which the respondents evaluated the effectiveness of the computer-based

program in accomplishing the Nutritional Status report

Scale Interpretation of the Respondents Evaluation on the

Computer-based program for accomplishing the Nutritional Status Report

4.51 - 5.00 Excellent

3.51 - 4.50 Very Good

2.51 - 3.50 Good

1.51 - 2.50 Fair

1.00 – 1.50 Poor

A. Teachers profile according to position/ designation

The above graph shows the distribution of teachers according to

position/designation. It reveals that seven (7) or 44% are teacher I, while Teacher

II and Teacher III position both have four (4) or 25% and only one (1) for the

Master Teacher position.

Teacher I (7) 44%

Teacher II (4) 25% Teacher III

(4) 25%

Master Teacher (1) 6%

Teachers Profile according to Position/Designation

B. Teachers profile according to length of service

Graph B shows the teachers profile according to length of service. A total

of ten (10) or 62% comprised the respondents with five (5) years and below when

it comes to years of service while six (6) or 38% of them are already in the

profession for more than six (6) years.

C. Teachers profile according to educational attainment

5 years and below(10) 62%

6 years and above

(6) 38%

Teachers Profile according to Length of Service

Bachelors Degree

(10) 62%

With Masters Unit

(6) 38%

Teachers Profile according to Educational Attainment

Graph C, shows the teacher-respondents profile according to educational

attainment. A total of ten (10) or 62% comprised the respondents with a

Bachelors degree and six (6) or 38% of them are taking Masters degree courses

and has acquire some educational units.

D. Duration for finishing the Nutritional Status Report using the manual

method

Graph D reveals the respondents perceived duration in finishing the

Nutritional Status Report using the manual method. All of them answered that it

will take them more than 4 days to finish the task due to some constraints like

preparing the lesson plan, visual aids and other activities that may hinder them

from finishing the report on a short period of time.

more than

4 days 100%

Duration for finishing the Nutritional Status Report using the manual method

E. Duration for finishing the Nutritional Status Report using the Semi - manual

method

Graph E shows the respondents perceived duration in finishing the

Nutritional Status Report using semi-manual method or with the use of calculator.

Still a large portion of the respondents (81%) says that it will take them more than

4 days to finish the report in spite the presence of the calculator to aid them in

computing the necessary items for the report. But a few responded (16%) that

they can finish the said report in four days time and 3% of them are confident that

they can finish the report in 3 days. This may be due to their length of service

and long exposure in performing the report that they already developed a pattern

and strategy in producing the needed result for the report.

More than 4 days 81%

4 days 16%

3 Days 3%

Duration for finishing the Nutritional Status Report using the semi-manual method

F. Duration for finishing the Nutritional Status Report using the computer-

based program method

Graph F reveals the respondents’ actual duration in performing the

Nutritional Status Report using the researchers developed program using

Microsoft Excel. A total of fourteen (14) or 87% of the respondents finished the

report in less than 1 hour and two (2) or 13% of the respondents finished the

report in just 1 hour. This can be attributed to the software program because it

automatically computes the actual age and body mass index (BMI) of the student

and at the same time it automatically categorize the BMI unlike before that the

teachers have to look on a table of values and locate the category of BMI that

they have obtained from the students. Furthermore, the software program also

summarizes the total breakdown of the BMI that makes it easy to produce the

Baseline and Endline or the Division Summary for the Nutritional Status Report.

Less than 1 hour

(14) 87%

1 hour (2) 13%

Duration for finishing the Nutritional Status Report using the computer-based program method

G. Respondents perceived effectiveness of the computer based program for

accomplishing the Nutritional Status Report

Indicators Mean SD Description

1. The computer-based program is user-friendly

or easy to use 4.81 0.397 Excellent

2. It reduces time and effort in finishing the

nutritional status report 4.88 0.336 Excellent

3. The results are accurate including the age,

BMI and BMI classification 5.00 0.000 Excellent

4. Easy to identify the students with nutrition

deficiency 5.00 0.000 Excellent

5. I’ll recommend this program to other

teachers 5.00 0.000 Excellent

OVERALL MEAN 4.94 0.150 Excellent

Legend: Mean Range Description Interpretation

4.51 - 5.00 Strongly Agree Excellent 3.51 - 4.50 Agree Very Good 2.51 - 3.50 Uncertain Good 1.51 - 2.50 Disagree Fair 1.00 – 1.50 Strongly Disagree Poor

The above table reveals that the overall mean of effectiveness of the computer

based program for accomplishing the Nutritional Status Report as perceived by the

teachers was Excellent ( = 4.94).

As the table shows that the teacher respondents perceived the program that is

easy to use obtained a mean of ( ) = 4.81; while they also believed that the program

really reduces time and effort to finish the said report = 4.88; The last 3 indicators

that includes the accuracy of the data generated, identifying the student with nutrition

deficiency and recommending the program to other teachers all obtained a mean of ( )

= 5.00 which was rated as excellent.

V. SUMMARY OF DATA INTERPRETATION

The abovementioned results and evaluation confirms the hypothesis why the

teachers finds difficulty in finishing the Nutritional Status Report is that the manual

process really takes too much of their time and effort, even with the presence of

machines like calculator still their other task like lesson planning, preparing visual aids

and formulating strategies hinders them to immediately finish the said report.

On the other hand, the results also proved the effectiveness of the computer-

based program developed in Microsoft Excel. Most of the respondents finish the task in

less than an hour. This can be attributed to the software program because it

automatically computes the actual age and body mass index (BMI) of the student and at

the same time it automatically categorize the BMI unlike before that the teachers have to

look on a table of values and locate the category of BMI that they have obtained from the

students.

Furthermore, the software program also summarizes the total breakdown of the

BMI that makes it easy to produce the Baseline and Endline or the Division Summary for

the Nutritional Status Report.

VI. ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION

1. The program must be implemented to replace the old method of producing the

report to enhance productivity of teachers and to minimize the time and effort in

accomplishing the said report.

2. A seminar or meeting must be conducted in the division to disseminate the

information to all the elementary schools on how to use the computer-based

program so they can also benefit from the features of the program.

3. It is recommended that this study be replicated in other schools or division to

validate the results.

Dear Respondents,

Please share some information about yourself. The data will be a great help in

my research study. Please answer all the questions below by checking the column that

corresponds to your opinion.

Your answer will be treated confidentially and that your name will not be

specified.

Thank you,

The Researcher

I. Teachers Profile

Place a check (√ ) that corresponds to your answer

1. Position / Designation

( ) - Teacher I

( ) - Teacher II

( ) - Teacher III

( ) - Master Teacher

( ) - Head Teacher

2. Years in service:

( ) - below 5 years

( ) - 6 to 10 years

( ) - 11 to 15 years

( ) - 16 to 20 years

( ) - 21 years and above

3. Educational Attainment

( ) - Bachelor degree

( ) - Units in Masters Degree

( ) - Masters Degree

( ) - Units in Doctors Degree

( ) - Doctors Degree

II. Comparison of Manual, Semi-Manual and computerized method of

accomplishing the nutritional status report

Provided that you do your regular routine as a teacher and assigned to submit the nutritional

status report comprising 20 male and 20 female students and ….

1. If you are to manually compute the age, BMI and classify the students BMI, how long will

it take you?

( ) - 1 day

( ) - 2 days

( ) - 3 days

( ) - 4 days

( ) - more than 4 days

2. If you are to use a calculator to compute the age, BMI and classify the students BMI,

how long will it take you?

( ) - 1 day

( ) - 2 days

( ) - 3 days

( ) - 4 days

( ) - more than 4 days

3. After using the software program, how long does it take you to finish the task

of computing the age, BMI and classify the students BMI?

( ) - Less than 1 hour

( ) - I hour

( ) - 2 hours

( ) - 3 hours

( ) - more than 3 hours

III. Respondents Evaluation of the Computer-based program for the Nutritional Status Report

Directions: Please indicate your honest observation of the following statements obtained in your school by checking the number that corresponds to its presence following the scale below

Legend: 5 – Strongly Agree - Excellent 4 – Agree - Very Good 3 – Uncertain - Good 2 – Disagree - Fair

1 – Strongly Disagree - Poor

Indicators 5 4 3 2 1

1. The computer-based program is user-friendly or

easy to use

2. It reduces time and effort in finishing the nutritional

status report

3. The results are accurate including the age, BMI

and BMI classification

4. Easy to identify the students with nutrition deficiency

5. I’ll recommend this program to other teachers

Comments/ Suggestions

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

ACTION RESEARCH ON THE USE OF

MICROSOFT EXCEL PROGRAM FOR

COMPUTING AND CLASSIFYING

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) FOR THE

NUTRITIONAL STATUS REPORT FOR

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AT DEPED

CAVITE CITY

RESEARCHER:

JESTER C. NICODEMUS

DIVISION ICT COORDINATOR

DEPED CAVITE CITY

July 3, 2012

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Memorandum

DepEd Order no. 21, s. 2003, “The use of the International Reference Standard (IRS) in

Determining the Nutritional Status (NS) of Filipino Children”, March 25, 2003.

DECS Order no. 41, s. 1995, “Utilizing the 1995 FNRI-PPS Tables in Determining the

Nutritional Status of School Children”, July 3, 1995.

MEC Memorandum no. 33, s. 1980, “Survey on the Nutritional Status of Filipino Public

School Children.”, February 7, 1980

MEC Memorandum no. 130, s. 1979, “A Study on the Nutritional Status of Filipino Public

School Children.”, May 17, 1979