Hume Andrew, Wetten Alexander, Feeney Camilla, Taylor Sally, O'Dea Kerin, Brimblecombe Julie
Menzies School of Health Research, Northern Territory.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2014 Jun;38(3):235-40. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12236.
This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of a novel, low-cost program to get remote schools started in gardening and nutrition activities, for a lower cost than existing models, and without on-the-ground horticultural support.
A multi-site, mixed methods case study was undertaken, in which four remote schools were shipped gardening materials and a nutrition and cooking resource, and provided with horticultural support by phone and email. A support register and teacher surveys were used for four months of evaluation.
The study demonstrated that the program is feasible, and may be associated with an increase from baseline in student's time spent cooking, gardening and on related classroom activities.
The program was delivered economically without the need for on-the-ground staff, in a manner that was acceptable to teachers.
This model may have application in remote schools throughout Australia, where there is a need to alter health impacting behaviours in high-risk populations. Lengthier program evaluation times and further resource development may be worth investigating in the future.
本试点研究旨在确定一项新颖、低成本项目的可行性，该项目旨在让偏远地区学校开展园艺和营养活动，成本低于现有模式，且无需实地园艺支持。
开展了一项多地点、混合方法的案例研究，向四所偏远学校运送了园艺材料以及一份营养与烹饪资源，并通过电话和电子邮件提供园艺支持。使用一份支持记录册和教师调查问卷进行为期四个月的评估。
研究表明该项目是可行的，并且可能与学生用于烹饪、园艺及相关课堂活动的时间较基线有所增加有关。
该项目以教师可接受的方式经济地实施，无需实地工作人员。
这种模式可能适用于澳大利亚各地的偏远学校，在这些地方有必要改变高危人群中影响健康的行为。未来可能值得研究更长的项目评估时间以及进一步的资源开发。
