Service-Learning Nutrition ProgramUCHSC School of Pharmacy

Catherine Jarvis, PharmD, BCNSP

Presented at CCPH Summer Service-Learning Institute

June 2005

What is service-learning?

• Students meet the learning objectives of the curriculum by performing a service to the community– Students and community benefit– Curriculum is extended beyond the lecture hall– Students apply learning to real world situations– Students develop a sense of civic responsibility– Students reflect on their experiences

How does service-learning fit into the pharmacy curriculum?• Provides real life, complex, social situations

for students to explore:– Communication– Social, ethical, cultural issues– Personal biases, assumptions & prejudices– Adapting messages to their audience– Decision making– Context of healthcare in society

Why nutrition for elementary school students?

• Nutrition is a basic, health-related topic

• Rates of obesity are rising dramatically across the US, particularly among children of minority groups

• Children are much more likely to change and adopt new dietary practices as compared to adults

• Children are an amenable audience

Why nutrition for elementary school students?

• Children influence the dietary practices of their families

• Obesity is strongly correlated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other diseases commonly encountered by practicing pharmacists

• A foundation of basic nutrition knowledge is important for practicing pharmacists

What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?

• Required course, 1st year pharmacy students

• Each pharmacy student matched to a group of 3 to 4 elementary school students

• Elementary school classroom one hour per week for seven weeks

• Pharmacy students submit written reflection assignments

What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?

• Preparatory work

• Elementary school visits

• Reflection assignments

• Quiz and survey

What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?

• The six module topics:– The food guide pyramid– Variety and balance– Grains & breakfast– Fruits, vegetables & snacks– Dairy, meats & portion sizes– Fats, oils & sweets

Elementary School Demographics

– 325 Elementary school children– Grades kindergarten to 5th grade– Ethnicity

• 75% Hispanic• 25% African American

– Language• 25% English as a second language• 9% Spanish speaking only

– 95% Qualify for free or reduced lunch program

What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?

• Each elementary school visit consists of:– 1. A major nutrition concept & activity

Nutrition Concept & Activity

Nutrition Concept & Activity

What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?

• Each elementary school visit consists of: – 2. A physical activity emphasizing nutrition concepts

Physical Activity

Physical Activity

Physical Activity

What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?

• Each visit consists of:– 3. Tasting of foods

Tasting

Tasting

What were the results from the first year?

• Cereal

• Banana

• Carrot n=253

• Chicken average correct =

• Milk 5.5 out of 6

• Cookie

What were the results from the first year?

– n=249 percent correct 83%

– Turkey sandwich, apple, skim milk

– Cheeseburger, French fries, Pepsi

– Fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, whole milk

Pharmacy Student SurveyAgree(%)

Strongly Agree(%)

I learned to workwith others moreeffectively

40 48

This experiencecontributed to mycommunication skills

35 48

This experiencecontributed to myleadership skills

42 45

I learned a newappreciation ofdifferent cultures andsocioeconomicgroups

41 39

n = 85

Pharmacy Student Survey

Fairly Often(%)

Very Often(%)

I felt I made avaluable contribution 48 31

I was activelyinvolved 29 58

I worked with peoplefrom diverseethnic and socialbackgrounds

28 58

n = 85

Pharmacy Student Reflections

• “I really believe that because of this, coupled with the excitement of the activities, they are going home and telling their parents about it, and perhaps requesting healthier snacks”

• “What we have accomplished with the children is spectacular. In my wildest dreams, I never thought that the children would be able to change their eating habits as well as their family’s eating habits”

Pharmacy Student Reflections• “Through this experience, I have learned that I

have to treat each child and family member as a different and unique individual”

• “This is not a role that I am playing for my instructor with my other classmates, these are not just words I am repeating from a book. I am being responsible for someone obtaining knowledge from me as if I were in a pharmacy setting.”

Pharmacy Student Reflections• “This experience is enabling me to learn how to use less

complicated language without “talking down” to people”

• “I have had to step back and think about how to approach some topics in order to ensure that I come across in a manner that the kids will understand. In the healthcare world, I want to be very conscious of the fact that people may not understand, so I can have the patience and knowledge to explain anything to them until they feel the concept is 100% clear.”

Acknowledgements

• SOP students • Vickie James

– Cooking Light

• SOP Faculty– Chris Turner

– Joel Giles

• SOP Curriculum Committee