Learning beyond the school environment : implementation of a nutrition education course within the community

Abstract

This study planned to promote healthier living regarding disease prevention and facilitate self-directed motivated participants to acquire good eating habits, active lifestyle and nutrition knowledge as to improve their quality of life. The ultimate aim of this research was to develop, implement and evaluate nutrition sessions for a specific group of adult participants in order to encourage them towards a positive influence in knowledge, skills, behaviour and attitudes. After analysing the needs assessment questionnaires, the general information about health conditions, nutrition knowledge and dietary habits were discovered among a group of adults residing in Ħal Kirkop. The tailored nutrition course of four sessions of 1½ hours each was designed and implemented based on these findings. The intervention aimed to equip the participants with practical tips on alternative food choices as to enhance their overall health. Then, pretest and post-test questionnaires were used to establish the short-term impact of the course. Telephone interviews were carried out after eight weeks as to evaluate the effectiveness of the long-term impact. Results indicated that, if effectively administered using constructivist pedagogies, nutrition courses can be effective enough to increase the knowledge, skills, and attitudes among adults. This suggests that nutrition education and its promotion motivate participants to make behavioural changes in order to enrich their lifestyle.