Research Article

Changes in Primary School Children's Behaviour, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Environments Related to Nutrition and Physical Activity

Table 5

Number (%) of teachers meeting the target scores for healthy eating and physical activity at baseline and followup by intervention (INT) and comparison (COMP) communities and percent change over time.

Target scoreBaseline (2006)Followup (2009)% Change
INTCOMPINTCOMPINTCOMP

129–137124–12998–10684–98
Child exposure
 Healthy eating≥1520 (14.9)11 (8.5)10 (9.4)3 (3.4)−5.5−5.1
 Fruit and vegetables≥1615 (7.6)15 (12.1)18 (17.0)11 (11.6)9.4**−0.5
 Physical activity≥3034 (25.6)39 (30.7)39 (37.1)23 (24.7)11.6−6.0
 Water Allow in class111 (81.1)110 (85.1)97 (91.2)85 (86.9)10.1**1.8
Teacher skills/attitude
 Healthy eating≥7, ≥16#8 (6.2)15 (11.7)19 (19.4)3 (3.4)13.2**−8.3
 Fruit and vegetables≥2444 (32.1)51 (39.5)45 (42.5)37 (41.1)10.41.6
 Physical activity≥27, ≥36#32 (24.1)37 (29.1)20 (20.0)6 (7.1)−4.1−22.0**
Teacher knowledge*
 Fruit serves1-281 (55.5)78 (56.1)83 (73.5)67 (67.0)18.0**10.9
 Vegetables serves3–5115 (78.8)105 (75.5)96 (85.0)75 (75.0)6.2
 Physical activity mins≥6072 (49.3)57 (41.0)64 (56.6)51 (51.0)7.310.0
 Screen time mins<12038 (26.2)45 (32.4)31 (27.7)28 (28.0)1.5−4.4

of responses varies between items.
*Proportion identifying correct answer. Fruit and vegetables: Australian Guide to Healthy Eating guidelines serves per day (Smith et al. [22]); Physical Activity and Screen time recommendations minutes per day [21].
**Significant difference between baseline and followup within condition.
#Higher target refers to 2009 which included four years for professional development.