Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jan 30:12:e13.
doi: 10.1017/jns.2023.2. eCollection 2023.

A peer support dietary change intervention for encouraging adoption and maintenance of the Mediterranean diet in a non-Mediterranean population (TEAM-MED): lessons learned and suggested improvements

Katherine M Appleton  1 , Claire T McEvoy  2 , Christina Lloydwin  2 , Sarah Moore  2 , Patricia Salamanca-Gonzalez  1   3 , Margaret E Cupples  2 , Steven Hunter  4 , Frank Kee  2 , David R McCance  4 , Ian S Young  2 , Michelle C McKinley  2 , Jayne V Woodside  2
Affiliations

A peer support dietary change intervention for encouraging adoption and maintenance of the Mediterranean diet in a non-Mediterranean population (TEAM-MED): lessons learned and suggested improvements

Katherine M Appleton et al. J Nutr Sci. .

Abstract

Peer support interventions for dietary change may offer cost-effective alternatives to interventions led by health professionals. This process evaluation of a trial to encourage the adoption and maintenance of a Mediterranean diet in a Northern European population at high CVD risk (TEAM-MED) aimed to investigate the feasibility of implementing a group-based peer support intervention for dietary change, positive elements of the intervention and aspects that could be improved. Data on training and support for the peer supporters; intervention fidelity and acceptability; acceptability of data collection processes for the trial and reasons for withdrawal from the trial were considered. Data were collected from observations, questionnaires and interviews, with both peer supporters and trial participants. Peer supporters were recruited and trained to result in successful implementation of the intervention; all intended sessions were run, with the majority of elements included. Peer supporters were complimentary of the training, and positive comments from participants centred around the peer supporters, the intervention materials and the supportive nature of the group sessions. Attendance at the group sessions, however, waned over the intervention, with suggested effects on intervention engagement, enthusiasm and group cohesion. Reduced attendance was reportedly a result of meeting (in)frequency and organisational concerns, but increased social activities and group-based activities may also increase engagement, group cohesion and attendance. The peer support intervention was successfully implemented and tested, but improvements can be suggested and may enhance the successful nature of these types of interventions. Some consideration of personal preferences may also improve outcomes.

Keywords: Dietary change; Mediterranean diet; Mixed methods; Peer support; Process evaluation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Attendance at each of the peer support group meetings over the intervention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Dinu M, Pagliai G, Casini A, et al. (2018) Mediterranean diet and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational studies and randomised trials. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 30–43. - PubMed
    1. Guasch-Ferré M & Willett WC (2021) The Mediterranean diet and health: a comprehensive overview. J Intern Med 290, 549–566. - PubMed
    1. Sánchez-Sánchez ML, García-Vigara A, Hidalgo-Mora JJ, et al. (2020) Mediterranean diet and health: a systematic review of epidemiological studies and intervention trials. Maturitas 136, 25–37. - PubMed
    1. Serra-Majem L, Román-Viñas B, Sanchez-Villegas A, et al. (2019) Benefits of the Mediterranean diet: epidemiological and molecular aspects. Mol Aspects Med 67, 1–55. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2019.06.001. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Martínez-González MA, Gea A & Ruiz-Canela M (2019) The Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular health. Circ Res 124, 779–798. - PubMed

Publication types