title: Randomized controlled trial of a telephone-based intervention for child fruit and vegetable intake: long-term follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telephone-based interventions can be effective in increasing child fruit and vegetable intake in the short term (<6 mo). The long-term efficacy of such interventions, however, is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the short-term (<6 mo) impact of a telephone-based intervention on children's fruit and vegetable intake was sustained over a longer term. A secondary aim of the study was to assess the long-term impact of the intervention on the intake of foods high in fat, salt, or sugar (noncore foods).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a cluster randomized controlled trial design. Parents were recruited from Australian preschools between February and August 2010 and allocated to receive an intervention consisting of print materials and 4 telephone-counseling calls delivered over 1 mo or to a print information-only control group. The primary endpoint for the trial was the 18-mo postbaseline follow-up. Linear regression models were used to assess between-group differences in child consumption of fruit and vegetables and noncore foods by subscales of the Children's Dietary Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fruit and vegetable subscale scores were significantly higher, indicating greater child fruit and vegetable intake, among children in the intervention group at the 12-mo (16.77 compared with 14.89; P < 0.01) but not the 18-mo (15.98 compared with 16.82; P = 0.14) follow-up. There were no significant differences between groups at either of the follow-up periods in the noncore food subscale score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research to identify effective maintenance strategies is required to maximize the benefits of telephone-based interventions on child diet.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health (LW, RW, EC, JW, and TRH) and the School of Psychology (AF and JB), University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter New England Population Health, Newcastle, Australia (LW, EC, JW, and TRH); Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia (LW, RW, EC, and JW); the School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia (LB); and the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia (KJC).
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolfenden
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wyse
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiggers
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; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005522:Food Services; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012574:Schools; D013689:Telephone; D014675:Vegetables