Computer-based training for food services workers at a hospital.
BACKGROUND
Interactive computer-based safety instruction (CBI) was given to 73 workers in the food services department of an urban hospital.


RESULTS
Post-test accuracy (95%) improved significantly (p < or = 0.0001) from the pre-test (74.5 %), d = 1.09. Generalization was confirmed by increased accuracy in answering questions, posed on-the-job, that required application of knowledge to the work setting (from 46% to 79%; p < 0.0001). Problematic kitchen conditions such as puddles increased slightly after training, but adjustment for increasing production/workload revealed an overall post-training decline in problems from 0.58 to 0.32 (p = 0.0001, d = 0.89). Work practice improvement was seen in 79% of workers (p < 0.0001, d = 1.00). Effect sizes (d) of knowledge, location, and work practice improvements are large and demonstrate that the benefits of CBI extend to the workplace floor. Further, the decrease between knowledge and behavior change (d = 0.09-0.2) is less than reported following other forms of training.
Eckerman
David A
DA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Abrahamson
Kristine
K
Ammerman
Tammara
T
Fercho
Heather
H
Rohlman
Diane S
DS
Anger
W Kent
WK
D000328:Adult; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D005260:Female; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce