10 Developing methods to investigate potential useful ‘side effects’ of the mobile teaching kitchen: exploring language and cognition

• Published in: BMJ nutrition, prevention & health prevention & health, 2023-07, Vol.6 (Suppl 1), p.A7-A7
• Main Authors: Webber, Jodie, Tsimpli, Ianthi, Ray, Sumantra, Dasgupta, Annwesha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognition & reasoning; Language; Nutrition education; Teaching; Teaching methods
• ISSN: 2516-5542; 2516-5542
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2023-nnedprosummit2022.13

BackgroundTeaching kitchens may have impacts beyond the fields of nutrition and health. Depending on the model of delivery, they may depend upon participants’ cognitive and linguistic skills for success. The NNEdPro Mobile Teaching Kitchens (MTK) initiative employs a ‘See One, Do One, Teach One’ (SODOTO) model of knowledge transfer. The first aim of this interdisciplinary research was to establish a methodological approach to investigate the hypothesis that SODOTO has associations and potential ‘side effects’ in the domains of cognitive flexibility and oral language.MethodsA mixed methods battery was developed for delivery alongside the MTK in Kolkata, India, which already involves measures of knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and health status. Baseline measures included the ASER reading task and a demographic and language questionnaire. Four tasks were included: 1) Category Naming, measuring verbal fluency, 2) Film Narrative, measuring oral language and storytelling skills, 3) Picture 2-back, measuring working memory, and 4) Picture Sequencing, measuring cognitive flexibility. Finally, group interview prompts were developed, covering the themes of knowledge transfer, communication, and changing attitudes and practices. All materials were produced in Bengali language (Bangla).ResultsBetween February and May 2022, 18 female participants aged 21-40 years (mean=27.94yrs, SD=6.23) enrolled and took part in the pre-intervention, SODOTO, and post-intervention sessions. Post-intervention sessions took place 4-6 weeks after SODOTO. Overall, the tasks were enthusiastically received, despite being an unfamiliar experience. Several challenges emerged, predominantly originating from the busy field environment where participants can feel self-conscious, providing key implementation insights for future work.ConclusionsDelivery of these measures alongside the MTK proved successful. Multiple areas for adaptation were highlighted and will be actioned ahead of further use, to progressively tailor the measures to the population. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis will allow understanding of possible links and predictive effects, which will be presented in future work.AcknowledgementsResearch funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.