Educational Needs for Developing Cross-Curricular Food and Nutrition Disaster Preparedness Programs in Japanese Schools: A Cross-Sectional Study

During disasters, adequate food and nutrition are vital for survival; however, the risk of nutritional deficiencies and food insecurity increases substantially. Disaster preparedness education addressing food and nutrition is therefore essential. In Japan, where natural disasters occur frequently, cross-curricular disaster preparedness education has been promoted in schools. However, no nationwide studies have investigated the perspectives of both general teachers and nutrition teachers regarding food and nutrition disaster preparedness learning content and teaching materials. This study aimed to identify learning content needs and preferences for teaching materials in cross-curricular food and nutrition disaster preparedness education in Japanese schools. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using paper- or web-based questionnaires. Data from 479 nutrition teachers and 240 general teachers from public elementary and junior high schools were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis of 33 learning content items (4-point Likert scale) was conducted for nutrition teachers (n=429), followed by subscale comparisons by school level and prior experience. Cluster analysis examined teachers' expectations of nutrition teachers' roles (n=240) and preferences for teaching materials among nutrition teachers (n=443) and teachers (n=223). Six domains of learning content needs were identified: food- and nutrition-related health, hygiene, and safety measures; stockpiling; food preparedness and support for vulnerable populations; food and nutrition intake during disasters; cooking and eating during disasters; and learning from others' experiences. Teachers emphasized integrating nutrition teachers' expertise and preferred experiential, practical materials, including simulations, ICT-based resources, and real-life materials. These findings inform cross-curricular food and nutrition disaster preparedness education in Japanese schools.