ERIC Number: EJ1156166
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Oct
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0268-1153
EISSN: N/A
A Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial to Determine Impacts of the Harvest of the Month Program
LaChausse, Robert G.
Health Education Research, v32 n5 p375-383 Oct 2017
The study purpose was to examine the impact of the Harvest of the Month (HOTM) program on fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, FV preferences, other eating behaviors, physical activity and other variables related to healthy eating. A clustered randomized controlled trial was employed in 28 elementary schools. After parental consent was obtained, students in grades 4-6 were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions (Intervention = 127, Control = 148). Students in the intervention group participated in HOTM, a widely used school-based nutrition promotion and obesity prevention program. Control group schools continued their usual practice. Participants completed baseline and follow-up surveys measuring fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption, FV preferences, other eating behaviors, physical activity, FV knowledge and self-efficacy to eat, prepare and ask for FV. No impacts of HOTM were found for FV consumption or other nutritional behaviors, physical activity, FV knowledge, or self-efficacy. A positive impact of the program was only found for FV preferences. This study suggests that the HOTM program did not affect eating behaviors or physical activity behaviors. The evidence base regarding school-based nutrition education programs including HOTM could be strengthened by the use of more rigorous impact evaluations to examine their effectiveness prior to wide-spread use.
Descriptors: Randomized Controlled Trials, Program Effectiveness, Health Programs, Health Promotion, Food, Eating Habits, Physical Activities, Experimental Groups, Control Groups, Intervention, Nutrition Instruction, Obesity, Prevention, Student Surveys, Pretests Posttests, Knowledge Level, Self Efficacy, Outcomes of Education, Evidence Based Practice, Dietetics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A