The Efficacy of Food Handler Training: The Transtheoretical Model in Focus, Brazil, 2013

Abstract

Objective - to analyze the educational intervention strategies based on the transtheoretical model, in restaurants employees

Methodology - This work is an intervention study, based on the Attitude Change Scale for Food Handlers (ACSFH); and the check-list based on the RDC 216/2004. Both instruments were applied before and after the educational intervention. The study was conducted with 263 food handlers, in 12 Community Restaurants (CR) of the Federal District (Brazil).

Results and Discussion - The internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.90) showed that the instruments were adequate. Of the 263 food handlers, 74.5% (n = 196) were female, 49.8% (n = 131) had elementary education and 77.6% (n = 204) were kitchen helpers. The attitude stage obtained from ACSFH in both moments of the instrument application were respectively 3.77 - Action stage and 4.06 - Maintenance, showing significant difference between the two time periods (p = 0.000). The results obtained from the check-lists before and after the intervention were rated as satisfactory according to Soto et al. (2009). Although rated as satisfactory, there was a statistic difference between them (p = 0.000). The results showed that after the education campaign there was a change for the best in the conception of good manufacturing practices (GMP). They also showed that the adoption of active methodologies associated with the diagnostic of propensity to change, based on the transtheoretical model, are efficient for practically all attitudes. These results can contribute to the adoption, in restaurants, of custom-made training strategies based on the results obtained from applying the transtheoretical model.