The effects of educational messaging within the expanded food and nutrition education program

Foodborne illnesses continue to threaten the health of consumers throughout the United States, as evidenced by multiple foodborne illness outbreaks being reported annually. The leading cause of death among patients with foodborne illnesses is listeriosis. Over the years, health educators have researched, developed, and implemented multiple educational methods aimed at reducing the number of listeriosis cases. Yet, foodborne illnesses and related deaths attributed to listeriosis continue to be reported annually. Using data from the 2009 EFNEP Giving Your Body the Best curriculum (N = 588) and listeriosis photo novella development project (N = 247); we explored the effectiveness of food safety preventive messaging within the Expand Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) community. Univariate and multivariate linear regression was conducted to model the effectiveness of the Giving your Body the Best curriculum and the listeriosis photo novella messaging on food safety knowledge and preventive behaviors. This study revealed three important findings. First, EFNEP client's food related skills and food safety behaviors improved in all categories after completion of the Giving Your Body the Best curriculum. Second, both educational interventions were equally effective at increasing participant's listeriosis knowledge and preventive food preparation and storage behaviors. Lastly, 108 of 152 (71%) photo novella study participants shared iv the photo novella with 255 spouses, family, or coworkers. This study significantly contributes to the field of foodborne illness prevention in four ways. First, this is the first study to examine the effectiveness of the Giving Your Body the Best curriculum. Second, it is the first study to develop a photo novella using principles of CBPR and health behavior and health education theories. Third, this is the first study to compare the effectiveness of a photo novella with that of a traditional didactic curriculum. And lastly, it is the first study to examine the impact of the photo novella on others outside of the immediate study population. This foundational study is only the first step in understanding the effectiveness, utility, and generalizability of the Giving Your Body the Best curriculum and the use of photo novella in terms of preventive foodborne illness education.