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Improving staff nutritional practices in community-based group homes: evaluation, training, and management
1Bancroft NeuroHealth, Haddonfield, New Jersey 08033, USA.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|July 9, 1999
Summary
Staff training improved nutritional practices in group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. Improvements in food handling and preparation were maintained for a year, benefiting resident health.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Disability Studies
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Community-based group homes are crucial for adults with developmental disabilities.
- Nutritional practices in these settings can significantly impact resident health.
- Standardized training protocols are often lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of a staff training and management intervention.
- To improve nutritional practices, including food storage, menu development, and meal preparation.
- To evaluate the long-term maintenance and impact on resident health.
Main Methods:
- A multiple baseline design was employed across two group homes.
- Training focused on food storage, menu development, and meal preparation.
- Supervisor feedback was integrated post-training, with follow-up for up to one year.
Main Results:
- All targeted staff behaviors significantly improved post-training.
- These behavioral improvements were sustained for up to 12 months.
- Positive collateral effects were observed in residents' biological health indices.
Conclusions:
- The staff training and management package effectively enhanced nutritional practices.
- Sustained improvements in staff behavior positively impacted resident health outcomes.
- The intervention demonstrated social validity among staff and parents.