Questionnaire survey as a method to improve organisation of nutrition in a school café
Objective. Based on annual questionnaire survey, to assess the organisation of nutrition and to use its results for improvement of the quality of school meals. Patients and methods. During three academic years, anonymous questionnaire survey was performed among parents, school staff and senior and middle school children in the Almaty international school. Various aspects of school nutrition were assessed, complaints and propositions were collected. After collecting questionnaires, the work to eliminate defects and improve the evaluated aspects began. During the first two academic years, the questionnaire survey was performed among parents and school staff. In the third year, the survey included parents of junior schoolchildren, staff, and children of middle and high school. Results. Most parents, schoolchildren and employees expressed their satisfaction with school meals. Nevertheless, there were certain aspects of nutrition that were assessed comparatively low. Analysis of the last survey, in which schoolchildren took part, demonstrated that most negative evaluations were given in this group (44%), whereas parents (63%) and employees (77%) gave more positive responses. Conclusion. Regular questionnaire surveys permit to single out weak and strong sides in organisation of nutrition in a school café, which might be further used to improve the quality of meals and services in school cafés.