P12: Are One-Time Nutrition Classes Effective?

Abstract

The impact of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) program at the University of Idaho on participants has been determined by self-reported behavior changes after they completed a series of six classes that cover dietary quality, food safety, and food resource management. Approximately 10% of adult participants enroll in these six classes while the remaining 90% take 1-5 classes. In order to determine effectiveness of nutrition classes on these individuals, ‘one-time surveys' were developed for participants to complete at the end of each class they attended. Each survey includes a list of planned behaviors based on the objectives of the class, and participants are asked to choose which one behavior they would be most likely to follow as a result of taking a specific class. Participants were selected using a non-random sampling approach and analysis of variance was calculated on 219 completed surveys. Planned behaviors selected by a significant number (P < .001) of participants on dietary quality, food safety and food resource management, respectively, included: eating a variety of foods from five food groups and using the food label to make more nutritious choices; no longer thawing meat at room temperature and thoroughly cooking meat, poultry, and fish; and using the five food groups to plan menus and use a spending and saving plan. The one-time surveys were effective in obtaining input from a larger percentage of FSNE participants, plus they provided input on what behaviors participants think were the most important to them. These results have been used to make the one time classes application oriented. The FSNE program is funded through USDA.