A stage-tailored multi-modal intervention increases fruit and vegetable intakes of low-income young adults.
OBJECTIVE
Assess effectiveness of an intervention to improve fruit and vegetable consumption in economically disadvantaged young adults.


METHODS
Randomized treatment-control, pre-post design.


METHODS
Ten states.


METHODS
Young adults (n = 2024, ages 18-24) were recruited from noncollege venues; 1255 (62%) completed assessment interviews at baseline and at 4 and 12 months.


METHODS
Treatment participants received a series of mailed materials and two educational calls in 6 months. Controls received a mailed pamphlet.


METHODS
Assessment calls determined two measures of fruit and vegetable intakes, demographics and stage of change at baseline, 4 and 12 months, plus treatment participants' decisional balance, processes, and self-efficacy.


METHODS
Repeated measure analysis of variance, intent-to-treat, chi2, and logistic regression.


RESULTS
At follow-up, participants in the experimental group had higher intakes of fruit and vegetables than controls (perceived daily intakes of 4.90 vs. 4.60 servings per day, F = 3.49, p < .05 and 4.31 vs. 3.92 servings/day via 5-A-Day Screener, F= 4.78, p < .01) and greater progression to action or maintenance stages (66% progress in fruitfor intervention vs. 55% progress in fruit for controls; 47% vs. 32% progress for vegetables, p = .0080 and .0001, respectively). Lower education, non-White ethnicity, male gender, living with children, and experimental group assignment predicted attrition (chi2(6df) = 288, p < .001, Cox R2 = .132).


CONCLUSIONS
Tailored educational messages and research-extension partnerships are advantageous for improving fruit and vegetable intakes of young adults.
Nitzke
Susan
S
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. nitzke@nutrisci.wisc.edu
Kritsch
Karen
K
Boeckner
Linda
L
Greene
Geoffrey
G
Hoerr
Sharon
S
Horacek
Tanya
T
Kattelmann
Kendra
K
Lohse
Barbara
B
Oakland
Mary Jane
MJ
Beatrice
Phillips
P
White
Adrienne
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D011177:Postal Service; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States; D014675:Vegetables