Dissemination and use of a school-based nutrition education program for secondary school students

Program dissemination and implementation represent critical components of effective school-based health promotion interventions. This study examined the dissemination and implementation of a nutrition teaching program, Nutrition For Life, in New York State secondary schools. Some 1,312 health, home economics, and physical education teachers in junior and senior high schools provided information through random sample mail surveys. Logistic regression procedures examined teacher and school characteristics associated with receipt and use of the program. Overall, 50% of junior high school and 33% of senior high school teachers received the program and three-quarters of these teachers used it. At both levels, home economics teachers were more likely to receive and use the program than health teachers. Peer-led teacher training workshops organized through an existing community-based network provide an effective and efficient mechanism for disseminating nutrition teaching programs.