INCREASING FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AMONG CALLERS TO THE CIS -RESULTS FROM A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

Background. Results are reported from a large randomized trial designe d to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among callers to the Can cer Information Service (CIS). Methods. CIS callers assigned to the in tervention group received a brief proactive educational intervention o ver the telephone at the end of usual service, with two follow-up mail outs. Key educational messages and print material derived from the NCI 5 A Day for Better Health program were provided to intervention subje cts. Subjects were interviewed by telephone at both 4-week (n = 1,672) and 4-month (n = 1,286) follow-up. Results. A single-item measure of fruit and vegetable consumption revealed a significant intervention ef fect of approximately 0.65 servings per day at 4-week follow-up (P < 0 .001) and 0.41 servings per day at 4-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Usin g a seven-item food frequency measure that was also included in the 4- month interviews, a similar intervention effect of 0.34 servings per d ay was obtained (P = 0.006). The vast majority of CIS callers (88%) en dorsed the strategy of providing 5 A Day information proactively. Conc lusions. A brief educational intervention delivered to CIS callers at the end of usual service was associated with an increase in self-repor ted fruit and vegetable intake. (C) 1998 American Health Foundation an d Academic Press.