Impact on Staff of Improving Access to the School Breakfast Program: A Qualitative Study. (11th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haesly, Blair; Nanney, Marilyn S.; Coulter, Sara; Fong, Sherri; Pratt, Rebekah J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of school health. Volume 84:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 274
• Publication Date: 2014-03-11
• Subjects: School health services -- Periodicals; School children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; School Health Services -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; 371.71
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4391

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="josh12142-abs-0001"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="josh12142-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="josh12142-para-0001">Project BREAK! was designed to test the efficacy of an intervention to increase student participation in the reimbursable School Breakfast Program (SBP). Two schools developed grab‐n‐go menus, added convenient serving locations, and allowed eating in the hallway. This follow‐up study investigated faculty and staff perspectives of how the SBP changes influenced schools.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12142-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>METHODS</title> <p id="josh12142-para-0002">Project BREAK! high schools were located near Minneapolis, Minnesota, enrolled over 1200 students each and were 70% to 90% white. Interviews with school personnel (N = 11) and focus groups with teachers (N = 16) from the 2 intervention schools were conducted. The Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) framework guided the question development.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12142-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="josh12142-para-0003">Analysis of the interviews identified the following DOI constructs as most prominently mentioned by school personnel and teachers: advantages for students and faculty/staff, minimal staff time required, communication of the changes, support of social relations between students and faculty/staff and trialability of the program.</p> </sec> <sec id="josh12142-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSION</title> <p id="josh12142-para-0004">There appears to be numerous advantages for both students and school personnel to improving SBP access. The relative advantages of Project BREAK! appear to outweigh the negatives associated with extra time and effort required by staff. Communication about the changes is an area that needs strengthening.</p> </sec> </abstract>