Online Course Increases Nutrition Professionals' Knowledge, Skills, and Self-Efficacy in Using an Ecological Approach to Prevent Childhood Obesity
2011
Stark, Christina M. | Graham-Kiefer, Meredith L. | Devine, Carol M. | Dollahite, Jamie S. | Olson, Christine M.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of an online continuing education course on the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of nutrition professionals to use an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental design using intervention and delayed intervention comparison groups with pre/post-course assessments. SETTING: Online continuing education course. PARTICIPANTS: Nutrition and health professionals in an online course (n = 105) and a delayed intervention comparison group (n = 37). INTERVENTION: A 6-week, facilitated online course titled, Preventing Childhood Obesity: An Ecological Approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in using an ecological approach to address childhood obesity. ANALYSIS: Paired and independent sample t tests, factor analysis, regression analysis. RESULTS: In contrast to a comparison group, nutrition and health professionals who participated in a 6-week online course had statistically significant increases (P < .01) in their knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to using an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: A facilitated online course can be effective at increasing the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of community-based nutrition and health professionals in using an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity in their communities.
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