2025, Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part E

Aim of the study: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching program (STP) in enhancing the knowledge of food handlers regarding foodborne diseases and food hygiene.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design was used to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching program on food hygiene among 60 purposively selected food handlers. Participants completed a 20-item questionnaire before and after the intervention, with data analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including paired t-tests and chi-square tests.

Results: The study's sociodemographic data showed that most participants were females (58.33%) aged 20-30 years, with 38.33% being graduates. At baseline, 58.33% had poor knowledge of foodborne diseases and hygiene. After the structured teaching program, all participants (100%) achieved good knowledge scores, with a statistically significant improvement (t = 60.87, p = 0.001). The greatest knowledge gain (64%) was in understanding food contamination, while other areas improved by 50-62%. A significant association was found between education level and baseline knowledge (χ² = 8.89, p = 0.001), highlighting education's key role in food safety awareness.

Conclusion: The study concludes that structured teaching programs effectively enhance food handlers' knowledge of foodborne diseases and hygiene, supporting their inclusion in routine training to improve food safety and prevent illness.