David B. Buller|Calvin Morrill|Douglas Taren|Mikel Aickin|Lee Sennott?Miller|Mary Klein Buller|Linda Larkey|Carlos Alatorre|Thomas M. Wentzel
Randomized Trial Testing the Effect of Peer Education at Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake
Cancer Research Center
national cancer institute recommends americans eat least five daily servings fruits vegetables national strategies increase consumption may reach minority lower socioeconomic populations randomized trial peer education tested effectiveness increasing fruit vegetable intake among lower socioeconomic multicultural labor trades employeesemployees n 2091 completed baseline survey received 18month intervention program standard communication channels eg workplace mail cafeteria promotions speakers ninetythree social networks cliques employees identified pair matched intake interim survey months 8 9 11 cliques longer existed 41 matched pairs cliques containing 905 employees remained one clique per pair randomly assigned peer education intervention employees central communication flow peer intervention cliques served peer educators last 9 months intervention program fruit vegetable intake measured 24hour intake recall foodfrequency questions baseline outcome ie 18 months 6month followup surveys p values twosidedby use multiple regression statistically significant overall effects peer education program seen intake recall increase 077 total daily servings p0001 foodfrequency increase 046 total daily servings p 002 questions outcome survey effect total number servings persisted 6month followup survey measured intake recall increase 041 total daily servings p 034 foodfrequency decrease 004 total daily servings p 743 questionspeer education appears effective means achieving increase fruit vegetable intake among lower socioeconomic multicultural adult employees