scholarly journals The Nutritional Surveillance at school: experiences from ATS Val Padana (Italy)

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Troiano ◽  
M Chiesa ◽  
M L Cirrincione ◽  
J Merisio ◽  
F Mondini ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Correct habits acquired in childhood positively affect the future health of the adult person. Therefore the school meal isn't as a simple satisfaction of nutritional needs, but also an important moment of health promotion, which involves teachers and parents. Objectives In ATS Val Padana the Food Hygiene and Nutrition Unit evaluates school menu at the beginning of each year (including special diets for specific diseases that require diet therapy). During the school year, trained personnel carries out inspections in schools, according to annual planning. During the inspection are evaluated: - Presence/respect of the validated school menu Number of mealsPeople preparing and administering mealsFood preparation and storageLiking by childrenManagement of special dietsManagement of the meal as an educational moment Results 132 inspections were performed: 70 in 2018 and 62 in 2019. 23 (17.42%) were conducted in nursery schools, 62 (46.96%) in kindergartens, 44 (33.33%) in primary schools, 3 (2.27%) in middle schools. 47 (35.60%) were privately managed; 61 (46.21%) were also equipped with a kitchen for preparing meals. 41 inspections (31.06%) showed slight criticalities; 9 (6.81%) serious problems (poor hygiene, lack of control over special diets - which required further inspections). A statistically significant difference was observed (p = 0.02) between 2018 and 2019, with a clear decrease in criticality in 2019. No difference in the results of the checks was observed in relation to the type of school, management, and to the presence or not of a kitchen (all p > 0.05). Conclusions The effectiveness of the control system is represented by the relationship between non-conformities detected during the checks and the number of performed checks. In 2019, despite the controls have increased compared to the previous year, the incidence of non-conformities has decreased. This indicates that control activities is positive to improve the quality of the school meal. Key messages The school meal is a fundamental educational moment for children. Control activities have positive impact on the quality of the school meal.

Author(s):  
Milkhatun Milkhatun ◽  
Alfi Ari Fakhrur Rizal ◽  
Ni Wayan Wiwin Asthiningsih ◽  
Asslia Johar Latipah

A lecturer with a good performance has a positive impact on the quality of teaching and learning. The said quality  includes the delivery of teaching materials, learning methods, and ultimately the academic results of students. Performance of lecturers contributes significantly to the quality of research and community service which in turn improves the quality of teaching materials. It is desirable, therefore, to have a method to measure the performance of lecturers in carrying out the Tri Dharma (or the three responsibility) activities, which consist of teaching and learning process, research, and community service activities, including publications at both national and international level. This study seeks to measure the performance of lecturers and cluster them into three categories, namely "satisfactory", "good", and "poor". Data were taken from academic works of nursing study program lecturers in conducting academic activities. Clustering process is carried out using two machine learning approaches, which is K-Means and K-Medoids algorithms. Evaluation of the clustering results suggests that K-Medoids algorithm performs better compared to using K-Means. DBI score for clustering techniques using K-Means is -0.417 while the score for K-Medoids is -0.652. The significant difference in the score shows that K-Medoids algorithm works better in determining the performance of lecturers in carrying out Tri Dharma activities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Gene Mehigan

This paper looks at the effects of an intervention, based on fluency oriented reading instruction (FORI), on the motivation for reading among struggling readers in First Class in Irish primary schools. The intervention took place in learning support settings in three primary schools located in urban educationally disadvantaged communities in North Dublin. The study was conducted through a pragmatic lens with research questions framed to shed light on the motivation for reading of students in First Class from disadvantaged backgrounds. A mixed methods design with a concurrent triangulation strategy was employed, facilitating the exploration of multiple research questions using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with teachers and parents and conversational interviews and surveys with students. The perspective of reading motivation guiding the study recognised the overlapping influences of teachers, parents and the student himself or herself. Findings, as reported by these research informants, indicate that the FORI intervention had a positive impact on the motivation for reading of struggling readers in First Class. In particular, the intervention was found to decrease students’ perceived difficulty with reading and increase their reading self-efficacy and orientation towards reading.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał Bronikowski ◽  
Małgorzata Bronikowska ◽  
Beata Pluta ◽  
Janusz Maciaszek ◽  
Maciej Tomczak ◽  
...  

The promotion of physical activity (PA) in children and their parents requires effective planning and sometimes even interventions. This study shows the effect of PA during a 15-week intervention program “Junior for Seniors” by applying a socioecological model to the interpretation of the data. This comprehensive approach emphasizes the fact that health promotion should focus not only on intrapersonal factors but also on the multilevel factors that might be determinants and modulators of increased PA. In 2015, 24 children (“juniors,” 14 girls and 10 boys, agedM=7.96±0.69) and 22 parents (“seniors,” 14 mothers agedM=38.86±2.96and 8 fathers agedM=37.38±2.97) were voluntarily enrolled in a study spread across three primary schools in the city of Poznań, Poland. The effectiveness of the intervention was determined according to postintervention behavioural changes in PA in comparison to preintervention levels, as reported by the parents and children. Overall, the study found increases in PA levels and reductions in sedentary time. Although the changes are modest, there are some unrecognized benefits of the intervention which may have occurred, such as improved sport and motor skills, more frequent family social behaviours (walks, meals, and visiting relatives), or simply improved quality of “do-together” leisure time PA.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
D A NAGATKIN ◽  
A V ZHESTKOV

Background. To Evaluate the effects of trees pollen sublingual products on the control and quality of life in patients with allergic asthma and proven sensitization to pollens of trees. Methods. We enrolled 56 patients in open prospective study and divided into 2 groups to assess the effectiveness of therapy with sublingual allergen. Groups were matched on estimated parameters of quality of life, level of control and forced expiratory volume in the first second. Results. Statistically significant improvement of quality of life parameters and the level of control within the group receiving sublingual immunotherapy was obtained. Significant difference in the average dose of received inhaled corticosteroids was established in the treatment group comparing to control. Conclusion. Sublingual allergen specific immunotherapy has a positive impact on quality of life and level of control in patients with allergic asthma and proven sensitization to pollens of trees, and decreasing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Professor Michael Edwin Bernard ◽  
Kate Walton

This research investigated the impact of a social and emotional learning program, You Can Do It! Education (YCDI), on different aspects of student social and emotional wellbeing. YCDI was implemented on a whole-school basis in six primary schools with six matched schools serving as controls. At the end of the school year, students in grade 5 in both types of schools completed the Attitudes to School Survey (Victorian Department of Education) and, again, at the end of the following school year when they were in grade 6. Results indicated significant improvements over time on different aspects of student well-being in the YCDI schools and not in the non-YCDI schools. The positive impact of a train-the-trainer model used in this study in a variety of schools under naturally occurring conditions holds promise for low-cost, preventive mental health programs.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e029688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Elizabeth Louise Evans ◽  
Kathryn Elizabeth Melia ◽  
Holly L Rippin ◽  
Neil Hancock ◽  
Janet Cade

ObjectiveMandatory school meal standards were introduced in 2006 in England; however, no legislation exists for packed lunches. This study analyses provision of foods and nutrients in packed lunches in 2016 to highlight differences in diet and nutrient quality since 2006.DesignTwo cross-sectional surveys of children’s packed lunches were conducted in 2006 and 2016. Data were analysed using multilevel regression models taking into account the clustering of children within primary schools.SettingData were collected from 1148 children who attended 76 schools across England in 2006 and from 323 children attending 18 schools across England in 2016.ParticipantsChildren were included if they regularly ate a packed lunch prepared at home (approximately half of children take a packed lunch to school) and were aged 8–9 years (in year 4), for both surveys.Outcome measuresData collected in both years included provision of weight and type of food, nutrients and proportion of lunches meeting individual and combined school meal standards.ResultsFrequency of provision and portion size of some food types changed substantially between surveys. Frequency of provision of confectionery in lunches reduced by 9.9% (95% CI −20.0 to 0.2%), sweetened drinks reduced by 14.4% (95% CI −24.8 to −4.0%), and cakes and biscuits not containing chocolate increased by 9.6% (95% CI 3.0 to 16.3%). Vegetable provision in lunches remained low. Substantial changes were seen in the percentage of lunches meeting some nutrient standards: non-milk extrinsic sugars (19%, 95% CI 10 to 29%), vitamin A (−8%, 95% CI −12 to −4%), vitamin C (−35%, 95% CI −42 to −28%) and zinc (−8%, 95% CI −14 to −1%).ConclusionsPacked lunches remain low quality with few meeting standards set for school meals. Provision of sugars has reduced due to reductions in provision and portion size of sugary drinks and packaged sweet foods; however, provision of some nutrients has worsened.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva KKoželuhová ◽  
Lenka Zemanová ◽  
Radka Wildová ◽  
Ondřej Koželuh

"The period of the covid pandemic changed day-to-day full-time teaching into distance learning. Teachers, but also parents without any prior training, had to react immediately. What has long been theoretically talked about professionally, namely the use of digitization of teaching in the online environment, has suddenly become a reality. Long discussions about the innovation of the curriculum for primary schools in terms of the scope and quality of educational content were suddenly solved by the teachers themselves using their professional skills and experience. Most of the surveys show [22], [15] that the teachers handled this situation very responsibly and that it can be stated that they managed it within the specific possibilities. Teachers, parents, and especially first-year primary school pupils had a very specific role during the pandemic, and thus the transition to distance learning. It is for this reason that we focused on this group, in our opinion the most affected by pandemics. The present study describes the experience of parents with distance learning reading and writing in the first grades of primary schools at the time of closing schools in the Czech Republic in the school year 2020/2021. The aim of the survey was to describe the effects of distance learning on the development of initial literacy, the differences between day-to-day and online teaching; problems, challenges, pros and cons that the distance learning period brought. The research was carried out as a multi-case study, in which interviews were conducted with six mothers of children - first-class pupils. The results showed that distance learning did not affect the quality of children's acquisition of reading and writing techniques, it only slowed it down. However, there was a decline in pupils' interest in reading and a disruption of their relationship with education in general. It was difficult for parents to motivate children to learn, to help them in case of difficulties with reading and writing techniques, and to evaluate their learning outcomes. On the other hand, distance learning has made it possible to further individualize education with regard to the needs of children and has deepened cooperation between school and family. Distance learning placed increased demands (physical and mental), especially on mothers, when it was necessary for their intensive involvement in the teaching process. Based on the evaluation of the course of distance learning, the paper brings general recommendations applicable to both distance and full-time teaching reading and writing."


2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (9) ◽  
pp. 1504-1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhiannon E. Day ◽  
Pinki Sahota ◽  
Meaghan S. Christian ◽  
Kim Cocks

AbstractDespite recent attempts to improve the quality of school meals in England through the introduction of school meal standards, uptake remains low. Since the introduction of the universal infant free school meal (UIFSM) scheme in September 2014 all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in English state-funded primary schools are eligible to receive a free lunch. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of pupils, catering managers and head teachers concerning school meal provision in eight primary schools in North England and provides a unique insight into each school’s preparation for implementation of UIFSM. A total of thirty-two focus groups were conducted with sixty-four pupils aged 7–8 years (Year 3) and sixty-four pupils aged 9–10 years (Year 5) in June–July 2014, to explore perceptions of school meals. Interviews were carried out with six catering managers and five head teachers concerning catering and the impending implementation of UIFSM. Increasing acceptance of school meals could lead to improved uptake. Pupils desired increased choice and menu variety, including greater variety of vegetables and fruit. Caterers can influence the quantity and types of foods offered to pupils, and there are opportunities for them to promote healthy eating behaviours in the dining room. The important roles of school meal providers, caterers, pupils and parents need to be recognised to improve delivery and acceptability of school meals and ultimately school meal uptake. There were practical challenges to implementation of UIFSM, with some concerns expressed over its feasibility. Head teachers were mainly positive about the potential beneficial impacts of the scheme.


Author(s):  
Made Aristia Prayudi

ABSTRACT The violation cases of codes of ethical conduct by professional accountants are rife in Indonesia. This phenomenon is expected to have negative impacts on the quality of government accountant. The purpose of this study areto investigate the influence of accountants’ codes of professional conduct implementation toward the quality of local government’s budget preparation; and todetermine whether or not there is a significant difference between male and female. This study is a quantitative research that employs survey method in which questionnaires are distributed to the financial officers of Finance and Asset Management Boardand Department of Revenue Service of Buleleng Regency in Bali. The data are analyzed usingSimple Linier Regression and Independent-Samples t-Test. Research findings indicate that accountants’ codes of professional conduct implementation have positive impact on the quality of local government’s budgetpreparation; and female government accountants are better than male on the implementation of accountants’ codes of professional conduct. Keywords: Gender; implementation of accountants’ codes of professional conduct; quality of local government’s budget preparation; governmental Accounting


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 805-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabir Ali ◽  
Mohammad Akbar

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the difference in students’ preferences on weekly menu of school mid-day meal (MDM) program in Uttar Pradesh, India. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on primary structured questionnaire survey through personal interviews using multi-stage stratified sampling technique. This comprehensive survey covered 2,400 primary and upper primary students belonging to eight districts of Uttar Pradesh – Allahabad, Balrampur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Hathras, Kanpur Nagar, Mathura, Shahjahanpur and Varanasi. A total of 60 schools have been selected from each district, covering a total of 480 primary and upper primary schools. Simple statistical tools have been used to analyze the surveyed data such as cross-tabulation, percentage distribution and rank analysis. Further, six research hypotheses have been formulated to analyze the difference in school meal menu preferences among the students and χ2-statistics has been used to test the significance level of these hypotheses. Findings – Survey results indicate that more than 90 percent students eat MDM in the school as per the weekly menu. Result of χ2-test indicates that choices on school meal menu among the students differ significantly across weekdays. Rice-pulses or rice-sambar served on Tuesday is reported to be the first preferred food of children given first preference by around 30 percent, followed by kadi-rice or kheer which is served on Wednesday. The results of χ2-tests exhibited a significant difference on weekly menu choices by gender, kitchen types, rural and urban locations and geographical regions. About 27 percent of the students reported that they want to have a change in the menu. When further probed about the kind of changes desired in the menu, puri-vegetables was found to be the most preferred choice of the respondents, beside halwa/kheer and rice with pulses/vegetables/kadi being the next preferred choices. Practical implications – The present study provides managerial implications to the policy makers and scheme/program implementers for better understanding of the students’ preferences on school MDM weekly menu. Originality/value – There are several evaluation studies undertaken by various agencies to assess the impact of MDM program on school attendance, retention and nutritional status of children. However, there are limited numbers of studies available, which have measured the students’ preferences on school MDM menu.


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