Randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of an interactive multimedia food safety education program for clients of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
BACKGROUND
Pregnant women and the very young are among those most susceptible to foodborne infections and at high risk of a severe outcome from foodborne infections.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if interactive multimedia is a more effective method than pamphlets for delivering food safety education to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clients.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial of WIC clients was conducted. Self-reported food safety practices were compared between pre- and postintervention questionnaires completed >or=2 months after the intervention.


METHODS
Pregnant WIC clients or female caregivers (usually mothers) of WIC clients who were 18 years of age or older and able to speak and read English were recruited from an inner-city WIC clinic.


METHODS
Participants were randomized to receive food safety pamphlets or complete an interactive multimedia food safety education program on a computer kiosk.


METHODS
Change from pre- to postintervention food safety scores.


METHODS
A mean food safety score was determined for each participant for the pre- and postintervention questionnaires. The scores were used in a two-group repeated measures analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Of the 394 participants, 255 (64.7%) completed the postintervention questionnaire. Satisfaction with the program was high especially among those with no education beyond high school. When considering a repeated measures analysis of variance model with the two fixed between-subject effects of group and age, a larger improvement in score in the interactive multimedia group than in the pamphlet group (P=0.005) was found, but the size of the group effect was small (partial eta(2)=0.033). Women aged 35 years or older in the interactive multimedia group had the largest increase in score.


CONCLUSIONS
The interactive multimedia was well-accepted and resulted in improved self-reported food safety practices, suggesting that interactive multimedia is an effective option for food safety education in WIC clinics.
Trepka
Mary Jo
MJ
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, University Park, HLS II 595, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA. trepkam@fiu.edu
Newman
Frederick L
FL
Davila
Evelyn P
EP
Matthew
Karen J
KJ
Dixon
Zisca
Z
Huffman
Fatma G
FG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005522:Food Services / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011632:Public Assistance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires