Assignment Series to Help Dietetics Students Develop Diet/Health-Related Nutrition Education Material Tailored to a Target Population

NACTA Journal, Dec 2003 by O'Neil, Carol E

Assignment Series to Help Dietetics Students Develop Diet/Health-Related Nutrition Education Material Tailored to a Target Population

Carol E. O'Neil

School of Human Ecology

Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Designing effective nutrition education material (NEM) is a challenge for all dietitians. To help dietetic students (DS) develop NEM tailored to a target population (students), a series of assignments and demonstrations were used. Written informed consent (#1), demographics (#2), and stages of change (SC) questionnaires (SCQ) (#3) were obtained. A food frequency questionnaire (#4) determined DS with lower intakes of fruit/vegetables (F/V). DS (n~6-8 in 6 classes) participated in an in-class focus group discussion (FGD) (#5). DS with higher intakes were recorders; the FGD was video-taped. Predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors for F/V intake from the FGD were determined using the Precede-Proceed model (#6). Lack of time, cooking skills, facilities, and money; short-shelf life, and dislike were main barriers to intake. Preferred NEM were brochures, recipes, and grocery signs. DS surveyed the campus to find food outlets on and around campus that sold F/V (#7). DS used all information to develop NEM to increase F/V intake tailored to their own SC (#8). NEM included grocery signs with a coupon twist, games, and easy-to-make recipes on laminated cards. DS in another class, with corresponding SC, evaluated the NEM (#9). These steps are used in dietetics practice to design NEM.

Carol E. O'Neil

School of Human Ecology

Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, LA 70803