THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT TRIAL FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH (CATCH) - INTERVENTION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND FEASABILITY FOR ELEMENTARY-SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED-STATES

The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) was t he largest school-based field trial ever sponsored by the National Ins titutes of Health. The trial demonstrated positive changes in the scho ol food service and physical education program, as well as in students ' cardiovascular health behaviors. Because the CATCH intervention prog rams were implemented in 56 schools (in four states) that were typical of schools throughout the United States, their reception by schools a nd degree of implementation provide evidence about their feasibility f or schools nationally. Extensive process evaluation data were collecte d from students, teachers, school food service personnel, and physical education specialists throughout the three school years of the CATCH intervention. Four of the CATCH programs-school food service, physical education, classroom curricula, and home programs-were assessed over the three school years. The process data provide information on partic ipation, dose, fidelity, and compatibility of the CATCH programs in th e intervention schools for these programs. High levels of participatio n, dose, fidelity, and compatibility were observed for the four progra ms during the 3 school years. CATCH emerges as a model of a feasible m ultilevel health promotion program to improve eating and exercise beha viors for elementary schools in the United States.