Process of Conducting a 5-a-Day Intervention with High School Students: Gimme 5 (Louisiana)

Abstract

Gimme 5: A Fresh Nutrition Concept for Students (Gimme 5) was a 4-year intervention targeting increased fruit and vegetable consumption by high school students. Twelve schools were randomized to intervention or control conditions. The cohort (2,213 students; 56% female, 84% Euro-American) were followed from 9th to 12th grade. Interventions were composed of a school-based media campaign, classroom workshops, school meal modification, and parental involvement. For each of the four Gimme 5 intervention components, process evaluation measures were developed to assess program dose, penetration, and utilization, as well as external competing factors. Process evaluation results are presented to illustrate the various functions of process evaluation data. These include, but are not limited to, describing program implementation, quality control and monitoring, and explaining study outcomes. The implementation of process evaluation systems to complement the outcome measures in a high school–based intervention provides useful strategies for a more comprehensive approach to program evaluation.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Havas S , Heimendinger J , Reynolds K , et al: 5-a-Day for Better Health: A new research initiative. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 94(1):32-36, 1994.

2. Havas S , Heimendinger J , Damron D , et al: 5-a-Day for Better Health: Nine community research projects to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Public Health Reports 110(1):68-79, 1995.

3. McGraw SA , McKinlay SM , McClemments L , Lasater T , et al: Methods in program evaluation: The process evaluation system of the Pawtucket Heart Health Program. Eval Rev 13:459-483, 1989.

4. MacKinnon DP , Dwyer JH : Estimating mediated effects in prevention studies. Eval Rev 17:144-158, 1993.

5. McGraw SA , Stone EJ , Osganian SK , et al: An overview of process evaluation on CATCH: The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health. Health Educ Quarterly 25(4, suppl. 2):S5-S26, 1994.

6. Nicklas TA , Johnson CC , Farris R , et al: Development of a school-based nutrition intervention for high school students: Gimme 5. Am J Health Promotion 11(5):315-322, 1997.

7. Nicklas TA , Johnson CC , Myers L , et al: Outcomes of a high school program to increase fruit and vegetable consumption: Gimme 5: A fresh nutrition concept for students. J School Health 68(6):248-252, 1998.

8. Nicklas TA , Johnson CC , Myers L , et al: Student awareness and acceptability of a high school media-marketing campaign promoting fruit and vegetable consumption: Gimme 5 program. J Child Nutr and Mgmt, in press.

9. Better Nutrition and Health for Children Act of 1994. Congressional Record 140(144): S14438-S14456, October 6, 1994.

10.

10. U.S. Department of Agriculture Mandate . School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children (SMI). National School Lunch Program Regulations, 7CFR210, Revised January 1, 1996.