J Nutr Educ Behav

Objective

To evaluate whether the evidence-based Body & Soul program, when disseminated and implemented without researcher or agency involvement and support, would achieve similar results to earlier efficacy and effectiveness trials.

Design

Prospective group randomized trial.

Setting

Churches with predominantly African American membership.

Participants

A total of 1033 members from the fifteen churches completed baseline surveys. Of these, 562 (54.4%) completed the follow-up survey six 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 post-test.

Analysis

Mixed-effects linear models.

Results

At posttest, there was no statistically significant difference in daily servings of FV between the early intervention group participants compared to control group participants (4.7 vs, 4.4, P=0.38). 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 due to lack of program implementation. Program dissemination may not achieve public health impact unless support systems are strengthened for adequate implementation at the church level.

22406012

PMC3374882

Journal Article

CDC Public Access