Effectiveness of training classes for food-handlers and food operators on improving their knowledge and practice of personal hygiene in the workplace at health training centers in Shiraz, Fars province

ABSTRACT

Pervious studies have shown that food-handlers personal hygiene plays a major role in food contamination and food poisoning prevention. By law, all food handlers must attend training courses specified for these professions in order to satisfy practical amendment of food, drink, cosmetics and health materials. In this study we evaluated the effect and outcome of a personal hygiene training course offered by health training centers in the city of Shiraz in 2006. In this study 58 subjects were evaluated. The data collection methods were observation and questionnaires. Fifteen questions in the abstraction tool were based upon the practical amendment of food, drink, cosmetics and health materials in Article 13 and related role regulations. Analytical methods of statistical implementation were conducted by SPSS package. Analytical results indicated 96.4% of the subjects were directly involved in food preparation. Results revealed that knowledge of the subjects' personal hygiene was significantly better before and after training session. However, no difference was observed on practice comparing before and after training. Evaluation of the effect and outcome of the personal hygiene training course, offered by health training centers in Shiraz, Fars province, before and after the training session, did not have the desired improvement in personal hygiene during food preparation. Therefore, changes are necessary in practical implementation of personal hygiene and food preparation as well as enforcement of health laws found in Article 13. In addition, training session materials at health training centers need to include more information regarding consequences of diseases caused by poor hygiene and food preparation to improve outcomes and to protect the public from food related diseases