Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategies
Abstract Practical methodologies that include food safety and hygiene education in pedagogical activities are strategies to prevent foodborne diseases (FBDs). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of 7th‐grade middle school students regarding food microbiology and food safety,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Food Science & Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3587 |
| _version_ | 1797662557628006400 |
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| author | Maria Aparecida da Ressurreicão Brandão Maria Elvira do Rego Barros Bello Manuella Farias deSouza Maria Rita de Jesus Carvalho Bianca Mendes Maciel |
| author_facet | Maria Aparecida da Ressurreicão Brandão Maria Elvira do Rego Barros Bello Manuella Farias deSouza Maria Rita de Jesus Carvalho Bianca Mendes Maciel |
| author_sort | Maria Aparecida da Ressurreicão Brandão |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Practical methodologies that include food safety and hygiene education in pedagogical activities are strategies to prevent foodborne diseases (FBDs). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of 7th‐grade middle school students regarding food microbiology and food safety, and to apply workshop‐based educational strategies that focus on scientific literacy. The students (144) were initially evaluated using a Likert‐scale questionnaire (pre‐intervention, Q0) with ten objective questions on microbiology and food safety. Once the questionnaire was evaluated, interventions were conducted through five science workshops of 50 min, over a period of 5 months. The workshops included educational games, laboratory practices, videos, and lectures that addressed microorganisms that are known to cause the most common FBDs in Brazil. After each workshop, students were asked to express their opinions and understanding of the content through semi‐structured interviews. Six months after the end of the practical interventions, the students completed a second identical Likert‐scale questionnaire (post‐intervention, Q1), and the answers to both questionnaires (Q0 and Q1) were analyzed by calculating the middle rank. The middle rank of Q1 (mean = 0.65 ± 0.13) was 21% greater than the middle rank of Q0 (mean = 0.44 ± 0.16), and statistical significance was observed (p = .0135). This demonstrates that new information acquired during the workshops positively influenced learning. We believe that when practical approaches to food safety are included in school education as a priority, the prevalence of FBD will decrease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:00:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f42037b6a3af4c0eb9fce1030eeb1863 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2048-7177 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:00:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food Science & Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-f42037b6a3af4c0eb9fce1030eeb18632023-10-10T12:30:22ZengWileyFood Science & Nutrition2048-71772023-10-0111106447645810.1002/fsn3.3587Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategiesMaria Aparecida da Ressurreicão Brandão0Maria Elvira do Rego Barros Bello1Manuella Farias deSouza2Maria Rita de Jesus Carvalho3Bianca Mendes Maciel4Graduate Program in Animal Science State University of Santa Cruz Ilhéus BrazilDepartment of Exact and Technological Sciences State University of Santa Cruz Ilhéus BrazilInterdisciplinary Degree in Natural Sciences and Technologies Federal University of Southern Bahia Itabuna BrazilDegree Program in Biological Science State University of Santa Cruz Ilhéus BrazilGraduate Program in Animal Science State University of Santa Cruz Ilhéus BrazilAbstract Practical methodologies that include food safety and hygiene education in pedagogical activities are strategies to prevent foodborne diseases (FBDs). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of 7th‐grade middle school students regarding food microbiology and food safety, and to apply workshop‐based educational strategies that focus on scientific literacy. The students (144) were initially evaluated using a Likert‐scale questionnaire (pre‐intervention, Q0) with ten objective questions on microbiology and food safety. Once the questionnaire was evaluated, interventions were conducted through five science workshops of 50 min, over a period of 5 months. The workshops included educational games, laboratory practices, videos, and lectures that addressed microorganisms that are known to cause the most common FBDs in Brazil. After each workshop, students were asked to express their opinions and understanding of the content through semi‐structured interviews. Six months after the end of the practical interventions, the students completed a second identical Likert‐scale questionnaire (post‐intervention, Q1), and the answers to both questionnaires (Q0 and Q1) were analyzed by calculating the middle rank. The middle rank of Q1 (mean = 0.65 ± 0.13) was 21% greater than the middle rank of Q0 (mean = 0.44 ± 0.16), and statistical significance was observed (p = .0135). This demonstrates that new information acquired during the workshops positively influenced learning. We believe that when practical approaches to food safety are included in school education as a priority, the prevalence of FBD will decrease.https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3587foodborne diseaseshygiene educationmicrobiologypublic healthscience teachingscientific literacy |
| spellingShingle | Maria Aparecida da Ressurreicão Brandão Maria Elvira do Rego Barros Bello Manuella Farias deSouza Maria Rita de Jesus Carvalho Bianca Mendes Maciel Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategies Food Science & Nutrition foodborne diseases hygiene education microbiology public health science teaching scientific literacy |
| title | Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategies |
| title_full | Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategies |
| title_fullStr | Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategies |
| title_short | Food safety knowledge among 7th‐grade middle school students: A report of a Brazilian municipal school using workshop‐based educational strategies |
| title_sort | food safety knowledge among 7th grade middle school students a report of a brazilian municipal school using workshop based educational strategies |
| topic | foodborne diseases hygiene education microbiology public health science teaching scientific literacy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3587 |
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