Pre-school manager training: a cost-effective tool to promote nutrition- and health-related practice improvements in the Irish full-day-care pre-school setting

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2015-06, Vol.18 (9), p.1554-1564
• Main Authors: Johnston Molloy, Charlotte, Kearney, John, Hayes, Nóirín, Glennon Slattery, Corina, Corish, Clare
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Best practice; Child Day Care Centers; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drinking water; Exercise; Female; Food service; Food Services; Health Behavior; Health education; Health promotion; HOT TOPIC – Implementation of programs and policies; Humans; Intervention; Ireland; Male; Meals; Milk; Nutrition; Program Evaluation; Quality Improvement; Research Papers; School Health Services; Schools; Schools, Nursery; Skills; Training; Validity; Workforce
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013002760

To evaluate the impact on nutrition- and health-related practice of two methods of delivery of a nutrition and health intervention in Irish full-day-care pre-schools: training of pre-school managers only or training of managers and their staff. A simple randomised study with pre-schools divided into two training groups: 'manager trained' and 'manager and staff trained'. Direct observational data--food and fluid provision, physical activity, outdoor time, staff practices and availability of nutrition and health resources--were recorded during one full day spent in each pre-school both pre- and post-intervention, using a specifically developed and validated Pre-school Health Promotion Activity Scored Evaluation Form. Post-intervention, self-assessment data were also collected using the same evaluation tool. Pre-schools, Midlands of Ireland. A convenience sample of forty-two pre-schools registered with the Irish Health Service Executive. From pre- to post-intervention, significant improvement (P < 0.05) in nutrition- and health-related practice was observed within both intervention delivery groups in all areas evaluated: environment, food service, meals and snacks. No additional effect attributable to staff training was observed. Scores assigned by direct independent observation were lower than pre-school self-assessment scores. The implementation of a training intervention in pre-schools significantly improved practice with no significant benefit of additional staff training. Direct independent observation is required to quantify practice accurately.