Comparison of a 5-a-Day social marketing intervention and school-based curriculum

American Journal of Health Studies, Winter, 2002 by Rosemary Thackeray, Brad L. Neiger, Heather Leonard, Joan Ware, Gregory J. Stoddard

Parent Behavioral Differences Within Study Groups. Within the SM group there was a significant difference from pre- to posttest in the median score for the number of servings of fruit and vegetables consumed by parents, as measured by responses to the food frequency questionnaire (Table 2). Additionally, within the SM group, there was a significant difference in the median score for the number of servings of fruit consumed by parents on a daily basis from pretest (Md = 1.0) to posttest (Md = 2.0) (p = .013). In the CO group, there was a significant difference in the servings of vegetables consumed each day from pretest (Md = 1.0) to posttest (Md = 1.0) (p = .039). Additionally, parents in the SM group perceived they consumed more fruit and vegetables from pre- (Md = 3.0) to posttest (Md = 4.0) (p =.002) (e.g., thinking about all of the fruits and vegetables you eat, including juices, salads, and potatoes, on average how many servings of fruits and vegetables do you eat each day?).

Parent Psychosocial Differences Within Study Groups. Among parents in the SM group, there was a significant difference from pretest (Md = 5.0) to posttest (Md = 5.0) for self-efficacy for eating three servings of fruit and vegetables a day (p = .025), but not for five servings (Md = 3.0, 4.0) (p = .051). Results indicate that at posttest, parents felt very sure in their ability to eat the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables daily.

Parents in the SM group reported significant differences in two attitudes from pre- to posttest: increased agreement with the statement that fruit and vegetables are too hard to prepare (Md 1.0, 1.0) (p = .001) and decreased agreement with the statement that they prefer to eat foods other than fruit and vegetables (Md = 3.0, 2.0) (p = .015). Data from parents in the NI group also indicate an increased agreement in the belief that fruit and vegetables are too hard to prepare (Md = 1.0, 1.0) (p = .001) and in the importance of their child eating fruit and vegetables daily (Md = 10.0, 10.0) (p = .004).

Among parents in the SM group, results indicate three significant differences between pre- and posttest for parent behavior related to serving fruit and vegetables. These included serving fruit with dinner (Md = 2.0, 3.0) (p = .008), serving vegetables with dinner (Md = 4.0, 4.0) (p = .009), and serving fruit, fruit juice, or vegetables as a snack (Md = 3.0, 4.0) (p = .012). Among parents in the NI group serving fruit with dinner (Md = 3.0, 3.0) (p = .010) and fruit, fruit juice, or vegetables as a snack (Md = 3.0, 4.0) (p = .004) were also significant.

A significant difference was found among parents concerning knowledge of how many servings of fruit and vegetables a person should eat each day in the SM group (pretest = 45.8%, posttest = 68.6%) (p = .002) and the CO group (pretest = 61.2%, posttest = 76.6%) (p = .036).

Faculty Behavioral Differences Between Study Groups. There were significant differences in median changes between study groups with regard to self-efficacy for eating five servings of fruit and vegetables ([c.sup.2.sub.k-w = 5.976, p = .050). Post hoc analysis indicated that at posttest faculty in the SM group reported higher self-efficacy (Md = 5.0) than the faculty in the NI group (Md = 4.0) (p = .013).