'Filling the Gap' -- children aged between six and eight years: sources of nutrition information used by families, school nurses and teachers.

Abstract This study aimed to identify sources of, and gaps in, nutrition information and services used by parents of children aged between six and eight years, their primary teachers and school nurses. This is the fourth part of a larger study of children from birth to eight years of age. Parents of 96 children aged between six and eight years completed a questionnaire. The children were randomly selected from 12 primary schools in Melbourne's western metropolitan region. The grade one primary teachers and the school nurses working in the area also completed a questionnaire and participated in in-depth follow-up interviews. The results indicated that school nurses generally viewed nutrition education as an integral part of their role and were interested in ongoing professional development on paediatric nutrition. Teachers saw themselves as having a role with the children through teaching nutrition as part of the standard curriculum, but most had not received any formal training in nutrition. Sources of nutrition information used by these nurses and teachers included brochures by food companies, newspapers and magazines, and television. Both teachers and nurses requested current, culturally specific nutrition information suitable for use with parents and children. Parents of the children identified family (67%) and own knowledge (65%) as main sources of nutrition information, followed by friends (44%), doctors (40%), television and radio (39%), books (35%) and magazines (31%). Some parents (34%) requested nutrition education to occur through the school system. Dietitians potentially have a role in resourcing the food industry, the popular media as well as health professionals. (Aust J Nutr Diet 2000;57:90-94) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]