A FEASIBILITY TEST OF A BRIEF EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION TO INCREASE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AMONG CALLERS TO THE CANCER INFORMATION-SERVICE

Background In this paper, results are reported from a pilot study desi gned to test the feasibility of a proactive educational intervention d elivered to callers of the Cancer Information Service (CIS). Methods. The study used a randomized two-group design (intervention vs control) . Callers assigned to the intervention condition received a brief educ ational intervention at the end of usual service to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. As part of the intervention, key educational m essages and materials drawn from the 5 A Day for Better Health program of the National Cancer Institute were provided to CIS callers over th e telephone and then reinforced with two follow-up mailings. Results. Results from this pilot study indicated high levels of adherence to pr otocol by CIS Information Specialists who delivered the intervention t o eligible CIS callers. Results obtained from the 4-week telephone fol low-up interviews indicated that intervention subjects (n = 142) repor ted higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, averaging approximate ly 0.75 servings more per day (P < 0.01) than control subjects (n = 13 4). Conclusion. Nearly 80% of CIS callers endorsed the strategy of pro viding 5 A Day information at the end of usual service, even if such i nformation was not specifically requested by the caller (i.e., the inf ormation was provided to CIS callers proactively). (C) 1998 American H ealth Foundation and Academic Press.