Effect of an intervention mapping approach to promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables among young adults in junior college: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention mapping developed to promote fruit and vegetable consumption.

Design: Students (n = 394) from two similar public colleges in the Quebec City area (Canada) were asked to participate. A quasi-experimental design was used with a 14-week pause between the pretest and posttest. The control and experimental groups both received information on Canada’s Food Guide recommendations. The experimental group was submitted to an intervention consisting of six interactive workshops carried out inside the college, and three personal exercises to be completed at home.

Main outcome: proportion of respondents consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Secondary outcomes: psychosocial variables assessed (theory of planned behaviour).

Results: The data collected from 344 participants by means of a self-administered questionnaire were analysed (167 experimental and 177 control). The posttest revealed a significant increase (15%) in the number of participants in the experimental group achieving the primary outcome (d = .38). The intervention also had a significant effect on the targeted psychosocial variables (η² = .03 to .06). Regularity of consumption acts as a mediator between intention and behaviour.

Conclusion: These results may be used to guide health promoters working with college students.

Keywords:

• fruit
• vegetables
• health education
• intention
• behaviour
• students

Acknowledgements

The cooperation of teachers and physical education coordinators of colleges in Quebec (Canada) proved vital to the successful conclusion of this research. We wish to express our gratitude to Maryse Lévesque, Suzanne Arbour, Chantal Huard, Henri Izard, Christian Émond and Gilles Drouin of Collège de Sainte-Foy, and Anick Ouellet, Lise Parent, Suzanne Casgrain and Yves Pérusse of Collège François-Xavier Garneau. We also thank Gaetan Daigle, statistician at Laval University (Québec), for his collaboration in the analysis of data and his valuable advice. We also wish to thank the participants in (the) this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.