Service-Learning Nutrition ProgramUCHSC School of Pharmacy
Catherine Jarvis, PharmD, BCNSP
Presented at CCPH Summer Service-Learning Institute
June 2005
What is service-learning?
• Students meet the learning objectives of the curriculum by performing a service to the community– Students and community benefit– Curriculum is extended beyond the lecture hall– Students apply learning to real world situations– Students develop a sense of civic responsibility– Students reflect on their experiences
How does service-learning fit into the pharmacy curriculum?• Provides real life, complex, social situations
for students to explore:– Communication– Social, ethical, cultural issues– Personal biases, assumptions & prejudices– Adapting messages to their audience– Decision making– Context of healthcare in society
Why nutrition for elementary school students?
• Nutrition is a basic, health-related topic
• Rates of obesity are rising dramatically across the US, particularly among children of minority groups
• Children are much more likely to change and adopt new dietary practices as compared to adults
• Children are an amenable audience
Why nutrition for elementary school students?
• Children influence the dietary practices of their families
• Obesity is strongly correlated with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other diseases commonly encountered by practicing pharmacists
• A foundation of basic nutrition knowledge is important for practicing pharmacists
What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?
• Required course, 1st year pharmacy students
• Each pharmacy student matched to a group of 3 to 4 elementary school students
• Elementary school classroom one hour per week for seven weeks
• Pharmacy students submit written reflection assignments
What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?
• Preparatory work
• Elementary school visits
• Reflection assignments
• Quiz and survey
What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?
• The six module topics:– The food guide pyramid– Variety and balance– Grains & breakfast– Fruits, vegetables & snacks– Dairy, meats & portion sizes– Fats, oils & sweets
Elementary School Demographics
– 325 Elementary school children– Grades kindergarten to 5th grade– Ethnicity
• 75% Hispanic• 25% African American
– Language• 25% English as a second language• 9% Spanish speaking only
– 95% Qualify for free or reduced lunch program
What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?
• Each elementary school visit consists of:– 1. A major nutrition concept & activity
What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?
• Each elementary school visit consists of: – 2. A physical activity emphasizing nutrition concepts
What is the service-learning nutrition program at CU?
• Each visit consists of:– 3. Tasting of foods
What were the results from the first year?
• Cereal
• Banana
• Carrot n=253
• Chicken average correct =
• Milk 5.5 out of 6
• Cookie
What were the results from the first year?
– n=249 percent correct 83%
– Turkey sandwich, apple, skim milk
– Cheeseburger, French fries, Pepsi
– Fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, whole milk
Pharmacy Student SurveyAgree(%)
Strongly Agree(%)
I learned to workwith others moreeffectively
40 48
This experiencecontributed to mycommunication skills
35 48
This experiencecontributed to myleadership skills
42 45
I learned a newappreciation ofdifferent cultures andsocioeconomicgroups
41 39
n = 85
Pharmacy Student Survey
Fairly Often(%)
Very Often(%)
I felt I made avaluable contribution 48 31
I was activelyinvolved 29 58
I worked with peoplefrom diverseethnic and socialbackgrounds
28 58
n = 85
Pharmacy Student Reflections
• “I really believe that because of this, coupled with the excitement of the activities, they are going home and telling their parents about it, and perhaps requesting healthier snacks”
• “What we have accomplished with the children is spectacular. In my wildest dreams, I never thought that the children would be able to change their eating habits as well as their family’s eating habits”
Pharmacy Student Reflections• “Through this experience, I have learned that I
have to treat each child and family member as a different and unique individual”
• “This is not a role that I am playing for my instructor with my other classmates, these are not just words I am repeating from a book. I am being responsible for someone obtaining knowledge from me as if I were in a pharmacy setting.”
Pharmacy Student Reflections• “This experience is enabling me to learn how to use less
complicated language without “talking down” to people”
• “I have had to step back and think about how to approach some topics in order to ensure that I come across in a manner that the kids will understand. In the healthcare world, I want to be very conscious of the fact that people may not understand, so I can have the patience and knowledge to explain anything to them until they feel the concept is 100% clear.”