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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Nov-Dec;44(6):530-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2011.09.002. Epub 2012 Mar 9.

Evaluating the dissemination of Body & Soul, an evidence-based fruit and vegetable intake intervention: challenges for dissemination and implementation research

Marlyn Allicock  1 , Marci K Campbell, Carmina G Valle, Carol Carr, Ken Resnicow, Ziya Gizlice
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Evaluating the dissemination of Body & Soul, an evidence-based fruit and vegetable intake intervention: challenges for dissemination and implementation research

Marlyn Allicock et al. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2012 Nov-Dec.

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.

Design: Prospective group randomized trial.

Setting: Churches with predominantly African American membership.

Participants: 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.

Intervention: Church-based nutrition program for African Americans that included pastoral involvement, educational activities, church environmental changes, and peer counseling.

Main outcome measure: Daily fruit and vegetable (FV) intake was assessed at pre- and posttest.

Analysis: 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 and implications: 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.

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