Impact of the Cross-Curricular Education Program on Food Intake, Physical Activity, and Body Mass Index of School Children in a Local Community in Northern Serbia.

INTRODUCTION: The trends in the state of nutrition and physical activity of school-age children in Serbia impose a need to create and evaluate programs to improve their nutrition and physical activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the cross-curricular nutrition and physical activity education program (NPAEP) on food intake, physical activity, and body mass index in first-fourth-grade primary school children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study used an experimental pre-test (t1) post-test (t2) design. The sample included 167 participants in t1 and 178 in t2. The differences in food intake, physical activity, and body mass index before and after implementation of the cross-curricular nutrition and physical activity education program were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, the Chi-squared test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Values p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Fruit (t1 = 0.70 ± 0.55; t2 = 1.26 ± 0.65; p < 0.001) and dairy intake (t1 = 1.52; t2 = 1.79; p = 0.005) significantly increased in the intervention group. A significant reduction in time spent watching television (t1 = 78.0; t2 = 56.7; p = 0.005) and playing on the computer (t1 = 32.3; t2 = 25.8; p = 0.047) was achieved in the intervention group. Time spent in organized sports activities significantly increased only in the intervention group (t1 = 21.9; t2 = 30.5; p = 0.046). Body mass index did not change significantly in the intervention group after the implementation of the NPAEP. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrition and physical activity education program contributed to an increase in fruit and dairy intake and time spent in intense physical activities and a reduction in screen time. The presented results justify the application of the NPAEP in improving the nutrition and physical activity of first-fourth-grade primary school children.

Determinants of fruit, vegetable, and dairy consumption in a sample of schoolchildren, northern Serbia, 2012.

INTRODUCTION: Insufficient intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products among children is a serious nutrition-related concern. The aim of our study was to determine behavioral and environmental factors that influence fruit, vegetable, and dairy consumption among Serbian schoolchildren. METHODS: We used 24-hour recall to measure fruit, vegetable, and dairy intake of schoolchildren (N = 212) aged 8 to 11 years from 2 elementary schools in a local community in Serbia. We evaluated potential determinants of intake by using a 48-item questionnaire that asked about children's behaviors, perceptions of others' expectations and behaviors, reinforcement of children's behaviors, and availability of fruits, vegetables, and dairy at home and school. Children completed written questionnaires during 1 school class under teacher supervision. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze determinants of fruit, vegetable, and dairy intake. RESULTS: Negative predictors of fruit intake were expectations from teacher and parents (P <.001) to eat fruit and availability of fruit in school. Vegetable intake was positively related to paternal modeling behavior (P <.001) and availability of vegetables at home (P = .04). Dairy intake was positively influenced by parental reinforcement (P = .03). CONCLUSION: Various personal and environmental factors are associated with children's intake of fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Interventions to promote fruit, vegetable, and dairy consumption in Serbian schoolchildren should focus on modeling and reinforcement by parents and teachers and increasing availability at school and at home.

[Personality and work of Florence Nightingale--creator of modern nursing and public health pioneer].

INTRODUCTION: Through her "calling to service", Florence Nightingale worked as a nurse, manager, researcher, reformer, writer and teacher. The aim of this study is to present Florence Nightingale in all these roles, pointing out all complexity and multidimensionality of nursing profession. PERSONALITY AND WORK OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE: Having come from an aristocratic English family, Florence Nightingale was very educated She considered knowledge as a way, and statistical method as an instrument for discovering the rules of the world. Her work during the Crimean War was one of her most important deeds and made her a national hero. After the war, she devoted herself to reforming nursing and public health in Britain and in the world. Since she was bedbound after the Crimean War due to her illness, writing became the most powerful tool she had in achieving her goals. Florence Nightingale wrote many letters to politicians and statesmen, many newspaper and scientific articles. One of her greatest works "Notes on Nursing" was not written only for nurses, but for all women. By founding Nursing school at St. Thomas Hospital in 1860 she aspired to train and educate nurses. CONCLUSION: Her complete and lifelong devotion to the ,,calling" directed all her activities, contributions and achievements, not only towards nursing but also towards statistics, epidemiology, public health and social sciences.