EDUCATION TO INCREASE OLDER AFRICAN AMERICANS' FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION
Purpose:To determine if a culturally sensitive nutrition/planting program results in an increase in FsVs consumption by older African Americans (OAA) aged 50 and over.
Methods: This quasi-experimental pre-intervention, post-intervention pilot study, using a convenience sample of 80 OAA, consisted of a two-hour interactive FsVs nutrient education session followed by a planting demonstration conducted in a local church. The post-intervention survey was conducted 1 week following the intervention. The National Cancer Institute “All Day” short food frequency screener was used pre-post to evaluate the effect of the intervention.
Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency were used to examine relationships between variables. Paired t tests were used to measure changes in consumption from pre-intervention to post-intervention.
Results: The 80 OAA who consented to participate in the Garden Based Education and Planting program completed the study in its entirety. The mean age of participants was 58.2 years (SD = 6.6) ranging between 50 and 82 years. Of the group, 36 participants were male (45%) and 44 were female (55%) educated beyond Grade 12. The pre-intervention survey indicated that a majority (87.5%) consumed fast foods at least 4.2 X/week. Statistical significance was achieved for the primary outcome of increased FsVs consumption. Paired t-tests showed an overall significant difference in the frequency [M= 3.64 (SD = 2.5) (t = 13.02, p = .000)] and quantity [M = 1.69 (SD = 2.29) (t = 6.61, p = .000)] of healthy FsVs consumption when pre-program was compared to post program. For example, the frequency of consumption of healthy foods such as 100% juice [mean difference = .55 (SD = 2.8; (t = 6.03, p < 0.000)], fruit [mean difference = .61 (SD = 1.23; (t = 4.41, p < 0.000)], lettuce salad [mean difference = .30 (SD = .58; (t = 4.65, p < 0.000)], dried beans [mean difference = .41 (SD = .73; (t = 4.96, p < 0.000)], other vegetables [mean difference = .68 (SD = .83; (t = 7.3, p < 0.000)], increased, while the frequency of unhealthy foods such as french fries decreased [mean difference = -.33 (SD = .46; (t = -6.36, p < 0.000)]. An independent t-test indicated a significant difference between females and males (t = 2.07, p = .041) with females having a higher mean consumption of FsVs. A Chi square for all other demographic variables indicated no significant association between these variables and the frequency or quantity of FsVs consumption. Implications for Pracatice: This 2-hour culturally sensitive educational intervention successfully increased fresh FsVs consumption in OAA, indicating that these older adults will engage in an intervention with a potential to reduce the risk of CVD.