Purpose: This study determined the effectiveness of a brochure versus a story-based comic book intervention targeting knowledge gaps in restaurant food handlers.
Methods: From June 2009 through February 2011 and September 2010 through March 2012, respectively, 729 food handlers from 211 participating restaurants in Lake, Kane and Suburban Cook Counties and 88 food handlers from 16 restaurants in DuPage County were interviewed in English or Spanish to determine baseline knowledge and identify which knowledge items were least known. At randomly selected intervention restaurants, an educational brochure or comic book, developed based on the knowledge gaps identified from the baseline survey, was distributed. Restaurant managers were requested to actively encourage their staff to read the materials. Thirty-five restaurants (85 food handlers) from the comic book group, 36 restaurants (54 food handlers) from the brochure intervention and 27 restaurants (56 food handlers) from the control group read the materials and participated in the follow-up knowledge survey.
Results: The mean food safety knowledge score increased from baseline by 9.6% for the comic book group and 6.3% for the brochure group (P < 0.0001, respectively) but did not increase for the control group (P = 0.84). A mean score increase was observed among the non-certified food handlers in the intervention groups also (comic 10.5% increase, P < 0.0001; brochure 5.0% increase, P = 0.0007; control, P = 0.78). Knowledge regarding the proper minimum internal temperature to cook chicken increased 27% in both intervention groups (P < 0.0001). One hundred percent of the certified food managers in the intervention groups said that these educational materials should be provided to restaurants.
Significance: These data demonstrate significant food safety knowledge increases among restaurant food handlers from targeted educational material with a relatively higher efficacy for a comic book format. Positive feedback regarding the materials suggests acceptability of this food safety training method.