Capacity and Knowledge Development Department, Nemours Health & Prevention Services, Newark, DE, USA.
Child Obes. 2013 Feb;9(1):43-50. doi: 10.1089/chi.2012.0057. Epub 2013 Jan 17.
Childhood obesity has been recognized as a national problem of epidemic proportions. Child care represents an ideal venue in which to address this problem, as many young children spend a significant amount of time and consume the majority of their meals in this setting. Recognizing this opportunity, Delaware recently enacted reforms to statewide licensing regulations designed to improve the quality of the nutrition-, physical activity-, and screen viewing-related environments in child care settings.
To facilitate the translation of these regulations into practices, a series of broad-scale trainings was held throughout the state. Attendance was required for all Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)-participating facilities, although child care providers from non-CACFP facilities also attended. Pre- and posttraining surveys were used to assess changes in providers' knowledge of the regulations and satisfaction with the training.
In total 1094 presurveys and 1076 postsurveys were received. Participants were highly satisfied with the training format and content, including the instructors, materials, and schedule. Data analysis demonstrates improved knowledge of all 26 regulation components from presurvey to postsurvey. Family child care providers, providers with more years of experience, CACFP-participating facilities, and facilities with food service personnel scored significantly higher than their center staff, less experienced and non-CACFP counterparts, as well as those without food service personnel.
Broad-scale, in-person training can effectively increase child care providers' knowledge of the regulations and is well received by this audience. Other states and jurisdictions seeking to improve nutrition, physical activity, and screen-viewing practices in child care settings should consider this model of quality improvement.
儿童肥胖已被公认为具有全国性影响的严重问题。儿童保育是解决这一问题的理想场所，因为许多幼儿在这个环境中花费大量时间并消耗大部分的饮食。鉴于这一机会，特拉华州最近对全州范围内的许可法规进行了改革，旨在改善儿童保育环境中的营养、身体活动和屏幕观看相关环境的质量。
为了促进这些法规转化为实践，全州范围内举办了一系列大规模培训。所有参与儿童和成人照顾食品计划（CACFP）的设施都必须参加，但非 CACFP 设施的儿童保育提供者也可以参加。在培训前后进行调查，以评估提供者对法规的了解程度和对培训的满意度变化。
共收到 1094 份预调查和 1076 份后调查。参与者对培训形式和内容，包括讲师、材料和时间表，非常满意。数据分析表明，从预调查到后调查，所有 26 个法规组成部分的知识都有所提高。家庭儿童保育提供者、经验丰富的提供者、参与 CACFP 的设施以及有餐饮服务人员的设施的得分明显高于其中心工作人员、经验较少和非 CACFP 对应的设施以及没有餐饮服务人员的设施。
大规模的面对面培训可以有效地提高儿童保育提供者对法规的认识，并且受到了这一受众的好评。其他希望改善儿童保育环境中营养、身体活动和屏幕观看实践的州和司法管辖区应考虑这种质量改进模式。
