The nexus of knowledge and behavior for school-aged children: implementation of Health Education Programs and a Nutritional Symbol System

Title
The nexus of knowledge and behavior for school-aged children: implementation of Health Education Programs and a Nutritional Symbol System
Publication Date
2013
Author(s)
Miller, Judith A
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3098-6504
Email: jmiller7@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:jmiller7
Graham, Lorraine
Pennington, Jim
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Routledge
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.1080/18377122.2013.836771
UNE publication id
une:13839
Abstract
Health-related knowledge has been assumed to inform lifestyle choices for school-aged students. A 'health-promoting school' provides the conceptual framework for this intervention. A large boarding school developed, implemented and refined a Nutritional Symbol System for their dining hall. The effectiveness of this social marketing strategy and school-based Health Education Program was evaluated by interviewing students (n = 16) for nutritional knowledge and application of the Nutritional Symbol System (NSS) to food choices in a range of contexts within (for example, in the dining hall and canteen) and beyond the school. In-depth interview data were collected, recorded and analyzed manually and via the Leximancer text mining software. Results indicated that there was a lack of consistent and accurate student knowledge derived from the Health Education Programs. Recommendations include a greater alignment between the Nutritional Symbol System, the plate and all Health Education Program materials to enhance students' health literacy around informed nutrition-related decisions.
Link
Citation
Asia-Pacific Journal of Health, Sport and Physical Education, 4(3), p. 217-234
ISSN
1837-7130
1837-7122
Start page
217
End page
234

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