It just really clicked: participant-perceived outcomes of community nutrition education programs.
OBJECTIVE
To understand participant-perceived outcomes of community nutrition education programs by low income adults.


METHODS
A grounded theory approach using qualitative interviews.


METHODS
Rural and urban communities in New York State and Pennsylvania.


METHODS
18 current and past participants in nutrition education programs for low income adults.


METHODS
Participants' perceived outcomes of community nutrition education programs.


METHODS
Qualitative analysis derived from the constant comparative method.


RESULTS
Participants described program experiences in three linked thematic areas: (1) a range of motives for program enrollment; (2) current roles, challenges and resources as program contexts; and (3) participant-perceived outcomes experienced throughout the program that were linked to their motives for enrolling. Short- and medium-term outcomes, especially social outcomes, were important to participants; positive experiences were linked to later behavior change by participants, even among those who did not initially report change.


CONCLUSIONS
Participant-perceived outcomes and program satisfaction were linked to enrollment motives and modified by whether participants' current worlds provided resources to put learning into practice. Participant inputs such as enrollment motives and resources should be included in planning models, assessed at multiple points, matched to expected program outcomes, and used to guide teaching.
Devine
Carol
C
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, USA. cmd10@cornell.edu
Brunson
Roger
R
Jastran
Margaret
M
Bisogni
Carole
C
D000328:Adult; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*