A Controlled Evaluation of Web-Based Training for Teachers and Public Health Practitioners on the Prevention of Eating Disorders

Abstract

The effectiveness of a web-based prevention program designed for elementary school teachers was examined in 78 elementary school teachers and 89 local public health practitioners (who provide support to schools). Participants were assigned to either the intervention (n = 95) or comparison (n = 72) study groups. All participants completed self-report online measures prior to, and following, the 60-day study period assessing knowledge about various factors that influence body image in children and efficacy to fight weight bias in the school. Information was also solicited on the feasibility of, and on the perceived benefit of the web-based program as a knowledge translation tool, in terms of layout and content. The Student Body program was found to be successful in improving knowledge concerning facts about dieting among the teacher participants, and in increasing efficacy to fight weight bias among the public health participants. Overall, the feedback was very positive concerning the layout and content of the Student Body. Participants reported an overall improvement in their awareness about how weight bias can be present in their teaching practices, and how this can trigger body image concerns among their students. Findings have implications for using the web to engage teachers in the prevention of disordered eating among school age children.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research, CIHR (Institute of Gender and Health and Knowledge Translation and Exchange) grant to Gail L. McVey and Joanne Gusella (KTS-62369). Gail L. McVey is supported by a Mid-Career Award funded by the CIHR (Institute of Gender and Health GHM-77672) and the Ontario Women's Health Council. The authors wish to thank the teachers and public health practitioners from Ontario and Nova Scotia for their participation in the study. Special thanks to the members of the Advisory Committee: Toronto Public Health, York Region Health Services Department, City of Hamilton Public Health Department, Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA), Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition (OHSC), Halton Catholic District School Board, and the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC). This site was designed, developed, and built in collaboration with the AboutKidsHealth team at SickKids (See www.aboutkidshealth.ca). Special thanks to Michael Levine for his review of the manuscript.