title: A stage-tailored multi-modal intervention increases fruit and vegetable intakes of low-income young adults.
abstract: 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.
authors: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. nitzke@nutrisci.wisc.edu
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Nitzke
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Kritsch
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Boeckner
authors: Geoffrey
authors: G
authors: Greene
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Hoerr
authors: Tanya
authors: T
authors: Horacek
authors: Kendra
authors: K
authors: Kattelmann
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Lohse
authors: Mary Jane
authors: MJ
authors: Oakland
authors: Phillips
authors: P
authors: Beatrice
authors: Adrienne
authors: A
authors: White
mesh_terms: 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