Hh. Marshak et al., EVALUATION OF A PEER-TAUGHT NUTRITION EDUCATION-PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME PARENTS, Journal of nutrition education, 30(5), 1998, pp. 314-322
This study examined the results of an evaluation of two nutrition educ
ation classes delivered by trained parents from the Head Start and Par
ents as Teachers (PAT) programs to their low-income peers. The objecti
ve of the project was to improve knows ledge and skills related to hea
lthy-cost rating among low-income residents in San Bernardino County,
California. The measurable outcome variables were improvement in self-
reported nutrition knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intention.
The project lasted 2 years: the first year involved development and pi
lot resting of two 1-hour nutrition classes, ''Sketching Your Food Dol
lars'' and ''Healthy, Low-Far Eating;'' the second year involved train
ing parent teachers to conduct the nutrition classes at Head Start and
PAT sites. The classes were simultaneously taught in both English and
Spanish by two-member teams of a total of 20 parent teachers. Using a
pretest-post-test design, this project evaluated over 300 parent part
icipants at Head Start and PAT who attended one of the two classes, of
whom about 70% were primarily Spanish speaking. Using t-test and chi-
square analyses to compare pre- and post-class scores, participants de
monstrated modest improvement in knowledge levels of low-cost, low-fat
nutrition methods (p =.0001); improved attitude toward healthy, low-c
ost meal planning (p =.007); moderate levels of self-efficacy for purc
hasing and eating healthy, low-cost foods; and strong intentions to tr
y the suggestions horn class. The results of this project indicate-tha
t volunteer parents can be trained to teach brief nutrition education
classes to low-income parents. Barriers to implementation and suggesti
ons for future programs are discussed.