title: Increasing fruit and vegetable intake among adults attending colorectal cancer screening: the efficacy of a brief tailored intervention.
abstract: Fruits and vegetables appear to confer protection against several cancers, but most adults in the United Kingdom eat substantially less than the recommended amounts. Cancer screening services could provide a valuable context in which to provide advice on increasing fruit and vegetable intake. This study examined the efficacy of a brief, tailored, psycho-educational intervention for increasing fruit and vegetable intake, carried out in a cancer screening clinic. The study was a randomized, controlled trial. 742 participants, 55-64 years of age, recruited from three cancer screening clinics, completed a baseline questionnaire. They were assigned either to the tailored intervention group or to an untreated control group. The primary outcome measure was self-reported consumption of fruit and vegetables. At 6 week follow-up there were significant increases in daily servings of fruit and vegetables in the tailored intervention group (CI, 0.87-1.25) compared with the untreated group (CI, 0.08-0.43). These results support the efficacy of a simple, written message, which is tailored to the intake and knowledge levels of the individual, for modifying cancer-protective dietary behaviors, at least in the short term. They also suggest that cancer screening clinics may be a good context for providing this service.
authors.affiliation: Health Behavior Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anna H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005638:Fruit; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014675:Vegetables