Melissa Hawkins1, Erin Watts1, Sarah Irvine Belson2, Anastasia Snelling3. 1. Department of Health Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, American University, Washington, DC. 2. School of Education, American University, Washington, DC. 3. Department of Health Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, American University, Washington, DC. Electronic address: stacey@american.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the research methods of a multicomponent nutrition education program empowering teachers to improve nutrition literacy and prevent obesity among elementary school students. DESIGN: Prospective 5-year study following a pre-post intervention design. SETTING: Four elementary schools in a high-needs area in Washington, DC: 2 intervention and 2 comparison schools. PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 100 teachers (25/school) and 800 students (200/school) enrolled over the study period. INTERVENTION: Healthy Schoolhouse 2.0 will engage teachers as agents of change by designing, implementing, and evaluating a structured professional development program to support the integration of nutrition concepts in the classroom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in pre-post survey assessment of students' nutrition literacy, attitudes, and intent; change in teachers' self-efficacy toward teaching nutrition; fruit and vegetable consumption data collected 6 times/y in the cafeteria. ANALYSIS: Process evaluation throughout the study to document implementation and challenges. Multilevel mixed modeling will be used to determine the impact of the intervention.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the research methods of a multicomponent nutrition education program empowering teachers to improve nutrition literacy and prevent obesity among elementary school students. DESIGN: Prospective 5-year study following a pre-post intervention design. SETTING: Four elementary schools in a high-needs area in Washington, DC: 2 intervention and 2 comparison schools. PARTICIPANTS: Approximately 100 teachers (25/school) and 800 students (200/school) enrolled over the study period. INTERVENTION: Healthy Schoolhouse 2.0 will engage teachers as agents of change by designing, implementing, and evaluating a structured professional development program to support the integration of nutrition concepts in the classroom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in pre-post survey assessment of students' nutrition literacy, attitudes, and intent; change in teachers' self-efficacy toward teaching nutrition; fruit and vegetable consumption data collected 6 times/y in the cafeteria. ANALYSIS: Process evaluation throughout the study to document implementation and challenges. Multilevel mixed modeling will be used to determine the impact of the intervention.