School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Nutr J. 2020 Nov 26;19(1):128. doi: 10.1186/s12937-020-00640-x.
Nutrition education programs in schools have been effective in improving children's knowledge and behaviours related to food and nutrition. However, teachers find it challenging to implement such programs due to overcrowded curricula. Integrating nutrition with core subjects such as mathematics could potentially address time constraints and improve the learning of both. The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the impact of a cross-curricular nutrition and mathematics program on primary school students' portion size estimation skills. Secondary aims include impact on their nutrition knowledge, attitudes towards mathematics and evaluating the quality of the lessons.
Twelve Year 3-4 classes from Catholic schools in New South Wales, Australia will be randomised to intervention (n = 6) or control (n = 6) groups. Teachers in the intervention group will receive a professional development workshop and resources to teach 4-5 lessons on portion size and measurements across 1-4 weeks. Outcome measures include portion size estimation skills, nutrition knowledge and attitudes towards mathematics, with data collected during three school visits (pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, 4 weeks post-intervention). Additionally, teaching quality will be assessed in both intervention and control groups and process evaluation undertaken using teacher interviews and student focus groups.
This RCT uses an innovative approach to improve both nutrition and mathematics related learning outcomes among primary school children. It has the potential to impact teaching practices regarding integration of nutrition into curricula and enhance the implementation of nutrition education interventions.
Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12619001071112 31/07/2019.
学校的营养教育计划已被证明能有效提高儿童与食物和营养相关的知识和行为。然而，由于课程过于拥挤，教师在实施此类计划时感到困难。将营养与核心科目（如数学）相结合，可能会解决时间限制问题，并提高两者的学习效果。这项随机对照试验（RCT）的主要目的是评估跨课程营养与数学计划对小学生份量估计技能的影响。次要目的包括评估其对营养知识、对数学的态度的影响，并评估课程的质量。
来自澳大利亚新南威尔士州天主教学校的 12 个 3-4 年级班级将被随机分为干预组（n=6）或对照组（n=6）。干预组的教师将接受专业发展研讨会和资源，以在 1-4 周内教授 4-5 节关于份量和测量的课程。结果测量包括份量估计技能、营养知识和对数学的态度，在三次学校访问（干预前、干预后立即、干预后 4 周）期间收集数据。此外，将在干预组和对照组中评估教学质量，并通过教师访谈和学生焦点小组进行过程评估。
这项 RCT 采用创新方法提高小学生的营养和数学相关学习成果。它有可能影响关于将营养纳入课程的教学实践，并增强营养教育干预措施的实施。
澳大利亚和新西兰临床试验注册中心 ACTRN12619001071112 2019 年 7 月 31 日。
