Community as locus for health formal and non-formal education: the significance of ecological and collaborative research for promoting health literacy

Exploring students' perception of subjective food literacy: A model of educational practice

Introduction

Latest research showed that lower levels of food literacy led to poorer health outcomes and highlighted the importance of nutrition education to improve food literacy for the population. Although evidence at the global level exists, the scientific literature on food literacy in Romania is scarce; therefore, this article aims to explore the perception of subjective food literacy as an outcome of an educational model in a sample of university students from Romania.

Methods

The present study used a qualitative inductive approach using focus groups to explore the results from an educational "learning-by-doing" model regarding the perception of subjective food literacy. The sample consisted of 64 second-year students who participated in a class taught by one of the authors between October 2019 and February 2020 and later agreed to participate in the focus groups. All focus groups were audiotaped following participants' permission and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed with the QSR Nvivo 12 Pro software package using an inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Several themes and sub-themes emerged from the focus groups discussing prior information of participants regarding nutrition, change in nutrition knowledge (information about plant protein, information about soy and soy products, information about sugar and its effects on health, and additional nutrition information), modified perception of nutrition and food, dietary habits, short-term behavior changes, and aspects that helped them to have more information about nutrition (construction of the health campaign, pre-testing materials, and support offered by the professors). All participants reported acquiring new information about food and nutrition, modified perceptions about nutritional habits, and even reported short-term behavioral change as an outcome of the educational model.

Conclusions

Educational models using a learning-by-doing approach and combining formal and non-formal education can potentially affect students' subjective food literacy. Future research should explore university students' food literacy using evidence-based educational models.

Nonformal education as health promotion method among European youth: the example of transitional Albania

Nonformal education methodology is promoted by the European Union as a priority. Western Balkan countries are supported in using this methodology via access Community funds (Erasmus +, previously Youth in Action). Nonformal education (proven as the most effective education method for youth) is expected to have the same impact if used in Public Health. We aimed to explore how nonformal education methodology contributes to health promotion through elaborating the example of transitional Albania. An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods design was used. We organized two focus groups: one with students of medical sciences and another with none medical students. We randomly selected eight participants per focus group from the Beyond Barriers association database (Contact point for Erasmus+ Programme in Albania). We used conventional content analysis to analyze qualitative data. Exploratory group interviews were conducted previously, using a questionnaire, which was piloted prior to administration. Of a population of 581 youth who participated in nonformal education activities during 2007-2013, 113 youths were interviewed. Ninety percent of interviewees declared that nonformal education activities have influenced improvement of their skills/competences or helped to acquire new ones; 53% declared that they reflected a change into personal behavior/actions/attitudes. Trainees learned through practice. They intended to retain the healthy behavior even when the activity was finished. Nonformal education activities offered equal opportunities to all youth despite their gender or field of study. Nonformal education methodology is recommended to be used in health promotion campaigns targeting young people as a very effective tool.