ERIC Number: EJ939494
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1499-4046
EISSN: N/A
Online Course Increases Nutrition Professionals' Knowledge, Skills, and Self-Efficacy in Using an Ecological Approach to Prevent Childhood Obesity
Stark, Christina M.; Graham-Kiefer, Meredith L.; Devine, Carol M.; Dollahite, Jamie S.; Olson, Christine M.
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, v43 n5 p316-322 Sep-Oct 2011
Objective: To assess the impact of an online continuing education course on the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of nutrition professionals to use an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity. Design: Quasi-experimental design using intervention and delayed intervention comparison groups with pre/post-course assessments. Setting: Online continuing education course. Participants: Nutrition and health professionals in an online course (n = 105) and a delayed intervention comparison group (n = 37). Intervention: A 6-week, facilitated online course titled, Preventing Childhood Obesity: An Ecological Approach. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in using an ecological approach to address childhood obesity. Analysis: Paired and independent sample t tests, factor analysis, regression analysis. Results: In contrast to a comparison group, nutrition and health professionals who participated in a 6-week online course had statistically significant increases (P less than 0.01) in their knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to using an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity. Conclusions and Implications: A facilitated online course can be effective at increasing the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of community-based nutrition and health professionals in using an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity in their communities. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Quasiexperimental Design, Obesity, Education Courses, Intervention, Self Efficacy, Health Personnel, Nutrition, Online Courses, Child Health, Continuing Education, Nutrition Instruction, Prevention, Factor Analysis, Regression (Statistics), Knowledge Level, Comparative Analysis, Children
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A