Behaviors and Beliefs About Food Safety and Instructional Delivery Strategies Among Limited Income Elderly Enrolled in Community Nutrition Education Programs

Abstract

A descriptive study utilizing mixed methods to determine preferred instructional delivery methods for receiving nutrition education and to identify food safety behaviors and concerns in a limited resource elderly population. Focus groups and a food safety survey were used with fifty-nine limited income elderly participants 59 years of age or older enrolled in Community Nutrition Education Programs in Oklahoma. Descriptive statistics of demographics and food safety behaviors were utilized. Participants were concerned about food safety as a means of maintaining health and avoiding illness. Instructional delivery preference was rooted in the inclusion of experiential and relational aspects of the presentations. The video was preferred most, followed by PowerPoint and handouts. Findings suggest that it is important to determine learning topics that are of interest to older adults so instructional materials can be developed, made available, accessible, and tailored to the expressed needs of elderly populations.