Italian public school: a survey to estimate teachers' knowledge and perception on prevention and management of nutrition related pathologies.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to estimate the current knowledge of nursery and primary school reference teachers about nutrition related pathologies, their prevention and control.


METHODS
The study was conducted during April-June 2006 sending a questionnaire to 24 School Directions of nursery and primary schools in a Northern Italian region (Friuli Venezia Giulia).


RESULTS
Considering all the schools we obtained a global response rate of 82.3% (115/142): 73.7% (42/57) of nursery schools and 85.9% (73/85) of primary school. 86.1% (99/115) of teachers thought that doing programmes aimed to improve nutrition behaviours is effective. 98.3% (113/115) of teachers answered that favourite fats in the diet are vegetables, 23.5% (27/115) that 55%-60% of the total caloric intake in children diet should consist in carbohydrates, 37.4% (43/115) ticked correct definition of diabetes. 75.7% (87/115) of interviewed teachers explain the term Body Mass Index correctly and 42.6% (49/115) know the cut-off between normal weight and overweight.


CONCLUSIONS
analysing the levels of importance attributed by teachers to nutrition issues, it emerges a noteworthy interest on this topic. This should be a stimulus to promote projects and training courses on this topic.
Quattrin
Rosanna
R
DPMSC School of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. quattrin.rosanna@aoud.sanita.fvg.it
Saveri
Erica
E
Calligaris
Laura
L
Brusaferro
Silvio
S
D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012578:Schools, Nursery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires