Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands?
Abstract Background A school provided healthy lunch might help to improve the nutritional quality of children’s lunches. However, in the Netherlands, school lunch programs are not common. The aim of this study was to identify factors that promote or inhibit the implementation of a school lunch progr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-022-00328-4 |
| _version_ | 1828103737094176768 |
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| author | Ellen van Kleef S. Coosje Dijkstra Jaap Seidell Monique H. Vingerhoeds Ilse A. Polet Gertrude G. Zeinstra |
| author_facet | Ellen van Kleef S. Coosje Dijkstra Jaap Seidell Monique H. Vingerhoeds Ilse A. Polet Gertrude G. Zeinstra |
| author_sort | Ellen van Kleef |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A school provided healthy lunch might help to improve the nutritional quality of children’s lunches. However, in the Netherlands, school lunch programs are not common. The aim of this study was to identify factors that promote or inhibit the implementation of a school lunch program at primary schools, from the viewpoint of school professionals. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 204 primary school professionals. The normalization process theory and its four constructs (i.e. coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, reflective monitoring) were used to develop questions and interpret findings. Descriptive statistics were used for 14 multiple choice questions (yes, no, don’t know) and thematic content analysis for qualitative responses. Results Participants had a shared understanding about how a lunch program differed from current practices. Most participants had the same view on the rationale for implementation (coherence), such as equality among children. Sixty percent expected that a healthy school lunch will contribute to healthier eating by the children. Participants showed different degrees of cognitive participation (46% indicated that healthy school lunch is good idea). Commitment depended on their belief whether providing a healthy lunch was part of their responsibility as school and 30% expected a large effect on their daily work (collective action). When appraising school lunch implementation (reflective monitoring), participants’ concerns focused on feasibility and adaptability of a program in their own school. Conclusions The introduction of a school lunch program will require substantial effort, although there is considerable support and understanding about potential benefits. The findings point to a number of preconditions for large-scale introduction, including the need for support—both financially and organizationally—bottom-up involvement of teachers, children and parents and freedom to adapt the program. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:29:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10c1510ddca44e3ab90193ed1115fba7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-1315 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:29:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-10c1510ddca44e3ab90193ed1115fba72022-12-22T04:31:54ZengBMCJournal of Health, Population and Nutrition2072-13152022-10-0141111110.1186/s41043-022-00328-4Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands?Ellen van Kleef0S. Coosje Dijkstra1Jaap Seidell2Monique H. Vingerhoeds3Ilse A. Polet4Gertrude G. Zeinstra5Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen UniversityFaculty of Science, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamFaculty of Science, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamFood, Health and Consumer Research, Wageningen Food and Biobased ResearchFood, Health and Consumer Research, Wageningen Food and Biobased ResearchFood, Health and Consumer Research, Wageningen Food and Biobased ResearchAbstract Background A school provided healthy lunch might help to improve the nutritional quality of children’s lunches. However, in the Netherlands, school lunch programs are not common. The aim of this study was to identify factors that promote or inhibit the implementation of a school lunch program at primary schools, from the viewpoint of school professionals. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 204 primary school professionals. The normalization process theory and its four constructs (i.e. coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, reflective monitoring) were used to develop questions and interpret findings. Descriptive statistics were used for 14 multiple choice questions (yes, no, don’t know) and thematic content analysis for qualitative responses. Results Participants had a shared understanding about how a lunch program differed from current practices. Most participants had the same view on the rationale for implementation (coherence), such as equality among children. Sixty percent expected that a healthy school lunch will contribute to healthier eating by the children. Participants showed different degrees of cognitive participation (46% indicated that healthy school lunch is good idea). Commitment depended on their belief whether providing a healthy lunch was part of their responsibility as school and 30% expected a large effect on their daily work (collective action). When appraising school lunch implementation (reflective monitoring), participants’ concerns focused on feasibility and adaptability of a program in their own school. Conclusions The introduction of a school lunch program will require substantial effort, although there is considerable support and understanding about potential benefits. The findings point to a number of preconditions for large-scale introduction, including the need for support—both financially and organizationally—bottom-up involvement of teachers, children and parents and freedom to adapt the program.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-022-00328-4School lunch programImplementationNormalisation process theory |
| spellingShingle | Ellen van Kleef S. Coosje Dijkstra Jaap Seidell Monique H. Vingerhoeds Ilse A. Polet Gertrude G. Zeinstra Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands? Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition School lunch program Implementation Normalisation process theory |
| title | Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands? |
| title_full | Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands? |
| title_fullStr | Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands? |
| title_short | Which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the Netherlands? |
| title_sort | which factors promote and prohibit successful implementation and normalization of a healthy school lunch program at primary schools in the netherlands |
| topic | School lunch program Implementation Normalisation process theory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-022-00328-4 |
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