Evaluation of a social marketing campaign targeting preschool children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a pilot social marketing program to increase preschoolers' willingness to try new foods.


METHODS
Four Head Start centers participated (2 experimental, 2 control) in a study using a quasi-experimental design. Experimental sites received a 12-week intervention developed using social marketing techniques. The program was evaluated via preference assessments, classroom observations, and teacher surveys.


RESULTS
Increased preference for and willingness to try new foods were observed in children from the experimental sites (P<0.05). The program was positively received by Head Start staff.


CONCLUSIONS
A social marketing campaign is an effective method to reduce children's neophobia.
Johnson
Susan L
SL
Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. susan.johnson@uchsc.edu
Bellows
Laura
L
Beckstrom
Leslie
L
Anderson
Jennifer
J
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003120:Colorado; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040241:Social Marketing; D016896:Treatment Outcome