Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T07:09:47.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evaluation of the Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Sharon Friel ,
Cecily Kelleher ,
Paula Campbell  and
Geraldine Nolan
Sharon Friel*
Affiliation:
National Nutrition Surveillance Centre, Department of Health Promotion, Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland, GalwayRepublic of Ireland
Cecily Kelleher
Affiliation:
National Nutrition Surveillance Centre, Department of Health Promotion, Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland, GalwayRepublic of Ireland
Paula Campbell
Affiliation:
National Nutrition Surveillance Centre, Department of Health Promotion, Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland, GalwayRepublic of Ireland
Geraldine Nolan
Affiliation:
National Nutrition Surveillance Centre, Department of Health Promotion, Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland, GalwayRepublic of Ireland
*
*Corresponding author: Email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objective:

To assess the impact and suitability of a pilot dietary educational programme for primary school pupils. The Nutrition Education at Primary School (NEAPS) programme aimed to build awareness of the benefits of healthy eating, induce positive behaviour change and increase the children's knowledge.

Design:

A comparative quasi-experimental study with follow-up after 3 months.

Setting:

Eight primary schools in the Eastern and North Western Health Boards and three control schools in the same board regions.

Subjects:

Data were used from 821 Irish school children aged 8–10 years old.

Methods:

The education programme comprised 20 sessions over 10 weeks including circular worksheets, homework assignments and an aerobic exercise regime. At baseline and after 3 months pupils completed food diaries and a validated food pairing questionnaire on food behaviour, knowledge and preferences.

Results:

Significant differences were found in the intervention children's behaviour and preference levels after the NEAPS programme (P < 0.01 in both sections). Knowledge levels were very high at baseline and though some individual items improved, average change overall was not significant. Rural children appeared to benefit more in behaviour and preferences from the programme (P < 0.01). The NEAPS programme appeared to be less effective in pupils in disadvantaged areas (P < 0.01 for each of the sections: behaviour, preference and knowledge). One hundred and eighty-seven children completed food diaries. The intervention children's consumption of fruit and vegetables increased, and they consumed less salty snacks after the programme. Rural children were confirmed to have healthier diets at baseline.

Conclusions:

Following the NEAPS pilot programme positive changes were seen in the school children's eating behaviour and preferences for healthier foodstuffs. This suggests successful development of a culturally sensitive nutrition education programme for school children aged 8–10 years.

Keywords

NutritionHealth educationSociodemographic factors
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 2 , Issue 4 , April 1999 , pp. 549 - 555
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 1999

References

1: Arbeit, ML, Serpas, DC, Johnson, CC, Forcier, JE, Berenson, GS. The implementation of a cardiovascular school health promotion program: utilisation and impact of a school health advisory committee—the Heart Smart Program. Health Educ. Res. 1991; 6: 423–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2: Coates, TJ, Jeffrey, RW, Slinkard, LA. Heart healthy eating and exercise: introducing and maintaining changes in health behaviour. Am. J. Public Health 1981; 71: 15–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3: Coates, TJ, Barofsky, I, Saylor, KE, et al. Modifying the snack food consumption patterns of inner city high school students: the great sensations study. Prev. Med. 1985; 14: 234–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4: Howie, SM. Nutrition education for children under 12 years in north Staffordshire. Hum. Nutr. Appl. Nutr. 1983; 37a: 54–8.Google Scholar
5: Cade, J. Nutrition education in primary schools in Hampshire. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 1990; 3: 413–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6: Perry, CL, Griffen, G, Murray, DM. Assessing needs for youth health promotion. Prev. Med. 1985; 14: 379–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7: Perry, CL, Mullis, RM, Maile, MC. Modifying the eating behaviour of young children. J. Sch. Health 1985; 55: 399–402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8: Perry, CL, Klepp, KI, Schultz, JM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: community-wide strategies for youth. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 1988; 56: 358–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9: Shilton, T, Corti, B. School heart health promotion—National Heart Foundation of Australia's activities. Hygie 1992; 11: 11–16.Google ScholarPubMed
10: Iammarino, NK, Laufman, L, Scott, LW, Weinberg, AD. Development and evaluation of the Help your Heart diet game. Hygie 1987; 4: 15–19.Google Scholar
11: Webber, LS, Osganion, SK, Feldman, HA, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors among children after a 2.5 year intervention–the CATCH study. Prev. Med. 1996; 25: 432–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12: Pittman, KP, Hayman, LL. Determinants of risk for cardiovascular disease during school-age/adolescent transition. Prog. Cardiovasc. Nurs. 1997; 12(4): 12–22.Google ScholarPubMed
13: Webber, LS, Cresanta, JL, Voors, AW, et al. Tracking of cardiovascular disease risk factors in school-age children. J. Chron. Dis. 1983; 36: 647–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14: Berenson, GS, Wattingney, WA, Bao, W, Srinivasan, SR, Radhakrishnamurthy, B. Rationale to study the early natural history of heart disease: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Am. J. Med. Sci. 1995; 310 (Suppl. 1); S22–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15: McGill, HC. Nutrition in early life and cardiovascular disease. Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 1998; 9(1): 23–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16: Berenson, GS, Srinivasan, SR, Bao, W, Newman, WP, Tracy, RE, Wattingney, WA. Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults. The Bogalusa Heart Study. N. Engl. J. Med. 1998; 338(23): 1650–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17: Strong, WB, Decklegaum, RJ, Gidding, S, et al. Integrated cardiovascular health promotion in childhood. AHA Medical/Scientific Statement. Circulation 1992; 85: 1638–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18: Gormley, TR, Walshe, T. Assessment of school meals and of weights/heights of primary school children in inner city Dublin schools. Ir. J. Food Sci. Technol. 1991; 15: 1–15.Google Scholar
19: Adamson, AJ, Rugg-Gunn, AJ, Appleton, DR, Butler, TJ, Hackett, AF. Dietary sources of energy, protein, unavailable carbohydrate and fat in 11–12 year old English children in 1990 compared with results in 1980. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 1992; 5: 371–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20: Cunningham, K. Young People and Their Food Choices. Dublin: Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, 1993.Google Scholar
21: O'Connor, M, Kiely, D, Mulvihill, M, et al. School Nutrition Survey. Ir. Med. J. 1993; 86: 89–91.Google ScholarPubMed
22: McLaughlin, B, Gormley, TR, Wickham, C. Nutritional Quality of Children's School Pack Lunches. Home Food Science Information Technical Bulletin No. 6. An Foras Taluntais, 1982.Google Scholar
23: Hackett, AF, Jarvis, SN, Matthews, JNS. A study of the eating habits of 11 and 12 year old children before and 1 year after the start of a healthy eating campaign in Northumberland. J. Hum. Nutr. Diet. 1990; 3: 323–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24: Pollack, M. Evaluating school health education. In: Pollock, M, ed. Planning and Implementing Health Education in Schools. USA: Mayfield Publishing Co., 1987; 228–60.Google Scholar
25: Hochbaum, G. Certain problems in evaluating health education. Health Values 1982; 6: 14–21.Google ScholarPubMed
26: Bandura, A. Social Learning Theory. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1977.Google Scholar
27: Nic, Gabhainn S, Kelleher, CC. Evaluation of the North Western Health Boards Lifeskills Health Education Programme. Gallway: Centre for Health Promotion Studies, 1995.Google Scholar
28: Nic, Gabhainn S, Kelleher, CC. and the INHPS Steering Committee. Evaluation of the Irish Health Promoting Schools Network. Dublin, Republic of Ireland: Department of Health, 1998.Google Scholar
29: O'Donnell, M, Kelleher, CC, Fallon, U. Process evaluation of a health education resource material for children: Galway Health Project. Proc. Nutr. Soc. (in press).Google Scholar