Strengthening the Aging Network: Development and Impact of a Virtual Course for Nutrition Professionals

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health Nutrition
• Adult Education

Background:

• The U.S. population is aging, necessitating program evolution for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-C senior nutrition program (SNP).
• Capacity building for SNP professionals is crucial for meeting evolving nutritional needs of older adults.
• The National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging (NRCNA) developed a training resource to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the theory-based development of the ican! online course.
• To evaluate the impact and reception of the ican! course among SNP professionals.
• To identify how the course can inform future training and workforce development in the Aging Network.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
• Quantitative data were collected from 801 survey respondents assessing course perceptions.
• Qualitative data were gathered from 10 interviews exploring course utilization and impact.

Main Results:

• Survey respondents reported positive perceptions of the ican! course, including engagement, relevance, satisfaction, and skill development.
• Qualitative interviews highlighted the course's utility for staff training, knowledge advancement, and organizational planning.
• Interviewees appreciated the course's user-friendly design, clear language, and flexible format.

Conclusions:

• The ican! online course is a valuable and well-received training tool for senior nutrition program professionals.
• Theory-driven design, incorporating audience input and evaluation, is key to developing effective educational resources.
• The findings support the sustainability of SNP and contribute to workforce development within the Aging Network.