Factors Influencing Implementation of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Eat Smart School Nutrition Program in Texas

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate factors influencing the implementation of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Eat Smart School Nutrition Program in Texas using data from the CATCH dissemination study. A mail survey was sent to school foodservice personnel (N=213) who attended a CATCH training from August 2000 through January 2002. A response rate of 40% (n=85) was achieved. The mean score for the percentage of CATCH Eat Smart guidelines implemented was 80.44. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that, after adjusting for age and number of years employed in school foodservice, the following factors were significantly associated with the percentage of CATCH Eat Smart guidelines implemented: utility of CATCH and CATCH Eat Smart in meeting requirements for Coordinated School Health Programs ( P=0.006), school foodservice personnel’s satisfaction with food made using the CATCH Eat Smart guidelines ( P=0.008), utility of CATCH in facilitating interschool communication about children’s health ( P=0.019), and perceived student satisfaction with food made using the CATCH Eat Smart guidelines ( P=0.046). These results suggest that dissemination approaches for Coordinated School Health Programs should focus on ways to enhance program satisfaction, be consistent with legislated mandates, and increase interschool staff communication to increase program implementation by school foodservice personnel.