title: Cooperative learning strategies to teach nutrition to geriatric nursing staff.
abstract: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that cooperative learning strategies will help to increase nutrition knowledge of nurses and nursing assistants caring for the elderly in different institutional communities of the Basque Country, Spain. The target population was a sample of volunteers, 16 nurses and 28 nursing assistants. Training consisted of 12 nutrition education sessions using cooperative strategies conducted over a period of 3 consecutive weeks. The assessment instruments included two pretest and two posttest questionnaires with questions selected in multiple-choice format. The first questionnaire was about general knowledge of applied nutrition (0-88 point scale) and the second one on geriatric nutrition knowledge (0-18 point scale). Data were analyzed using SPSS vs. 11.0. The outcomes indicated a significant increase in general nutrition knowledge (difference between the pre- and post-test mean score: 14.5+/-10.1; P<0.001) and in geriatric nutrition knowledge for all participants (difference between the pre- and post-test mean score: 4.6+/-4.6; P<0.001). So the results indicated that cooperative learning strategies could improve the nutrition knowledge of nursing staff. Additionally, the results of this study provide direction to continuing nutrition education program planners regarding appropriate content and methodology for programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Ana Ma
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rocandio
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ansotegui
authors.forename: Estíbaliz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez de la Pera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D007858:Learning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*