Evaluation of Food Poisoning Prevention Performance in Schools

Abstract

This evaluation study employed the CIPP Model to assess the implementation of food poisoning prevention programs in schools across four dimensions: context, input, process, and product, as well as to examine stakeholders’ opinions. The study sample comprised schools under the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Office of the Private Education Commission, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Department of Local Administration. A convenience sampling method was employed, resulting in a total of 9,996 schools. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice and open-ended items. Content validity was assessed by three experts (IOC: 0.67 – 1.00). The questionnaire was pilot-tested in 30 schools in Sa Kaeo Province. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding a coefficient of 0.92 for the context, input, and process components. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative opinion data were analyzed through content analysis and thematic categorization. The findings indicated that most schools were small (56.59%) and affiliated with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (72.54%). Respiratory diseases were identified as the most significant health problem (48.57%). The overall performance evaluation using the CIPP Model was at a high level (= 2.57). When considering individual components, the input dimension yielded the highest mean score ( = 2.61), followed by the context dimension (= 2.59), and the process dimension (= 2.50), respectively. Regarding outcomes over the past year, the occurrence of food poisoning incidents in schools was low (4.24%). The primary causes of illness were attributed to improper health behaviors among students, teachers, or school personnel (37.03%). Regarding preventive measures, approximately one-fifth of respondents (21.92%) reported not knowing how to prevent food poisoning, indicating a knowledge gap among teachers and school staff. Therefore, the Department of Disease Control should collaborate with relevant public health agencies and educational institutions to develop clear, user-friendly, practical guidelines that enable personnel at all levels to effectively implement surveillance and prevention measures in a concrete, sustainable manner.