title: A cluster randomized controlled trial of a telephone-based parent intervention to increase preschoolers' fruit and vegetable consumption.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with increased chronic disease risk and represents a considerable global health burden. Despite evidence that dietary habits track from early childhood, there are few published trials of interventions attempting to increase preschoolers' fruit and vegetable consumption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Healthy Habits trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a telephone-based intervention for parents to increase the fruit and vegetable consumption in their 3-5-y-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 394 parents of children aged 3-5 y recruited through local preschools. Parents allocated to the intervention received printed resources plus four 30-min telephone calls targeting aspects of the home food environment associated with children's fruit and vegetable consumption. Parents allocated to the control group received generic printed nutrition information. Children's fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed by using the Fruit and Vegetable Subscale of the Children's Dietary Questionnaire, which was administered via telephone interview at baseline and 2 and 6 mo later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of all available data showed that children's fruit and vegetable scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at 2 mo (P < 0.001) and at 6 mo (P = 0.021). Sensitivity analysis using baseline observation carried forward showed an intervention effect at 2 mo (P = 0.008) but not at 6 mo (P = 0.069).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telephone-delivered parent interventions may be an effective way of increasing children's fruit and vegetable consumption in the short term. Further investigation to determine whether the intervention effect is maintained in the longer term is recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia. rebecca.wyse@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wyse
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolfenden
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiggers
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Todd R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Heard
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000191:economics; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D016487:Parenting; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors; D014675:Vegetables / Q000191:economics