The use of new technologies for nutritional education in primary schools: a pilot study.
Public Health
; 140: 50-55, 2016 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27756495
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The aim of this study was evaluating if the presence of a humanoid robot could improve the efficacy of a game-based, nutritional education intervention. STUDYDESIGN:
This was a controlled, school-based pilot intervention carried out on fourth-grade school children (8-10 years old). A total of 112 children underwent a game-based nutritional educational lesson on the importance of carbohydrates. For one group (n = 58), the lesson was carried out by a nutritional educator, the Master of Taste (MT), whereas for another group, (n = 54) the Master of Taste was supported by a humanoid robot (MT + NAO). A third group of children (n = 33) served as control not receiving any lesson.METHODS:
The intervention efficacy was evaluated by questionnaires administered at the beginning and at the end of each intervention. The nutritional knowledge level was evaluated by the cultural-nutritional awareness factor (AF) score.RESULTS:
A total of 290 questionnaires were analyzed. Both MT and MT + NAO interventions significantly increased nutritional knowledge. At the end of the study, children in the MT and MT + NAO group showed similar AF scores, and the AF scores of both intervention groups were significantly higher than the AF score of the control group.CONCLUSIONS:
This study showed a significant increase in the nutritional knowledge of children involved in a game-based, single-lesson, educational intervention performed by a figure that has a background in food science. However, the presence of a humanoid robot to support this figure's teaching activity did not result in any significant learning improvement.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Juego e Implementos de Juego
/
Robótica
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Educación en Salud
/
Ciencias de la Nutrición
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
Límite:
Child
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Female
/
Humans
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Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Public Health
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia