Journal Article

Perceptions, attentes et motivations de parents quebecois a l'egard des services alimentaires en milieu scolaire

Bertrand, Amelie, Marquis, Marie

2017

Overview

Purpose: Among parents of students who attend schools in the Commission scolaire de Montreal (Montreal school board), the objectives are to measure perceptions of the quality of products offered by the food services and identify the expectations and motivations related to their children's diets at school. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was sent to approximately 70 000 parents of students at 133 elementary and 34 secondary schools. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used (P < 0.05). Results: A total of 1776 elementary and 858 secondary respondents were included in this study. The parents have a positive perception of their children's satisfaction with the standard serving size and of the price-quality ratio. The staff's attitude and the fact that the meal is an enjoyable part of the day are among the most important factors. The parents' primary expectation of the school is to offer children a healthy diet and activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. Conclusions: This study supports the need to document parents' expectations and motivations and consider the expected role of the school in promoting healthy eating practices. (DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2017-003) Published at dcjournal.ca on 23 March 2017 Objectif: Les objectifs de cette etude sont de mesurer aupres des parents d'eleves frequentant les ecoles de la Commission scolaire de Montreal (CSDM) les perceptions de la qualite des produits offerts dans les services alimentaires et d'identifier leurs attentes et motivations en lien avec l'alimentation de leur jeune a l'ecole. Methodes: Un questionnaire electronique a ete envoye a environ 70 000 parents d'eleves dans 133 ecoles primaires et 34 ecoles secondaires. Des statistiques descriptives et des tests de chi-carre ont ete realises (P < 0,05). Resultats: Un total de 1776 repondants au primaire et 858 au secondaire ont ete inclus dans cette etude. Les parents percoivent favorablement la satisfaction de l'enfant liee a la portion habituellement servie et le rapport qualite-prix. L'attitude du personnel et le fait que le repas soit un moment agreable dans la journee sont parmi les dimensions les plus importantes. L'attente principale envers l'ecole est de mettre a la disposition de l'enfant une alimentation saine et des activites de promotion de saines habitudes de vie. Conclusions: Cette etude soutient la necessite de documenter les attentes et les motivations parentales et de s'attarder au role attendu de l'ecole dans la promotion des saines habitudes alimentaires. (DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2017-003) Publie au dcjournal.ca le 23 mars 2017

• Publisher: Dietitians of Canada
• Subject: Health aspects / Parents / School lunches / School lunchrooms, cafeterias, etc / Surveys