Self efficacy scale for fruits and vegetables consumption in teachers of Mexican elementary schools

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of a healthy eating and physical activity guide strategy (Nutrición en movimiento) in elementary schools over the teachers self‐efficacy in order to increase the fruits and vegetables consumption.Materials and methodsThe present study was conducted in 60 elementary schools of the Mexican State of Mexico; 30 were included in the intervention group and 30 in the control, a total of 458 teachers were studied, 239 from the intervention group and 219 from the control. Teachers self efficacy to increase the fruits and vegetables consumption was evaluated at the beginning of the study. Healthy feeding and physical activity workshops were conducted. Four months after the intervention another set of questionnaires was applied. A longitudinal panel model (using General Estimating Equations, GEE) was used for evaluating intervention and time effects on auto‐efficacy, corrected by age and sex.ResultsSelf‐efficacy Initial mean score was 79.82 ± 7.07 in the intervention group and 81.53± 6.72 in the control group. There exist a significant effect of intervention and time, with increase of 1.28 (p=0.03)and 1.3 points (p=0.00) in the self efficacy scale.ConclusionStrategy showed its efficacy by increasing the teacher's capability to generate changes focused on increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables.