Cancer prevention in schools: design and pilot testing of a nutritional curriculum for mid-adolescents.
Adolescents at schools ought to be easy to reach for dietary cancer prevention programs. Yet, traditional school health education interventions, however, do not affect behavior. We have a developed short-term (10 hour) program that supports adolescents in adopting a low-fat, high-fiber diet. The aim has been achieved by making the classroom activities work as part of a community intervention program and by including elements derived from Bandura's social learning theory and the self-efficacy construct. Following the theoretical constructs, the students are exposed to peers reporting on appropriate dietary behavior. In order to enhance self-efficacy, students are given the opportunity to experience successful self-initiated dietary changes. Thus, they set up an individual dietary goal and carry out changes based on this. A pilot test indicated that the program process works as planned. However, in order to evaluate behavioral effects, further studies are required.
Department of Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Wallin
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Bremberg
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Haglund
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Holm
D000293:Adolescent; D003153:Community Health Services; D003479:Curriculum; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005522:Food Services; D006040:Goals; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012572:School Health Services; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D012982:Sodium, Dietary