title: Evaluating the dissemination of Body & Soul, an evidence-based fruit and vegetable intake intervention: challenges for dissemination and implementation research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the evidence-based Body & Soul program, when disseminated and implemented without researcher or agency involvement and support, would achieve results similar to those of earlier efficacy and effectiveness trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective group randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Churches with predominantly African American membership.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,033 members from the 15 churches completed baseline surveys. Of these participants, 562 (54.4%) completed the follow-up survey 6 months later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Church-based nutrition program for African Americans that included pastoral involvement, educational activities, church environmental changes, and peer counseling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Daily fruit and vegetable (FV) intake was assessed at pre- and posttest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixed-effects linear models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At posttest, there was no statistically significant difference in daily servings of FVs between the early intervention group participants compared to control group participants (4.7 vs 4.4, P = .38). Process evaluation suggested that added resources such as technical assistance could improve program implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disseminated program may not produce improvements in FV intake equal to those in the earlier efficacy and effectiveness trials, primarily because of a lack of program implementation. Program dissemination may not achieve public health impact unless support systems are strengthened for adequate implementation at the church level.
authors.affiliation: Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. allicock@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Marlyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allicock
authors.forename: Marci K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Carmina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Resnicow
authors.forename: Ziya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gizlice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult