NP18 The Impact of a Comprehensive Home Food Environment Intervention for College Freshmen Living in a Residence Hall

Abstract

Objective While many interventions designed to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) intake focus on increasing knowledge and changing behaviors, improving the domains of the comprehensive home food environment (HFE) (Home Food Availability and Cues; College Students’ Food Practices; Social Support and Modeling) also appears to be an important target. Determine the impact of a comprehensive HFE intervention on the HFE and FV intake of college freshmen living in a residence hall participating in the Get FRUVED study. Description Baseline data were collected online during Fall 2016 from new freshmen (n = 149; 18 to 25 years) at the University of Florida. Participants were recruited through the Get FRUVED study and listservs, lived on campus, and stored food at their dorm. Eligible participants were randomized to one of the following groups: standard Get FRUVED group (GF) or Get FRUVED plus intense comprehensive HFE intervention group (GF+H). Surveys were completed again at post-intervention. Participants received $40 for completing both surveys. The intervention was based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). The comprehensive HFE intervention included a grocery shopping tour and ten nutrition education classes that included a brief nutrition lesson, a hands-on cooking class, and a dinner discussion. Participants completed the Comprehensive HFE Survey, Dietary Screener Questionnaire, and demographic questionnaire. Differences in HFE characteristics and FV intake between groups post-intervention were assessed using ANCOVA. Evaluation Seventy-five students completed pre- and post-surveys. While the HHS did not change FV intake, the intervention did result in more improved food preparation attitudes (under the HFE College Students’ Food Practices Domain) in the GF+H participants compared to GF participants at post. The lack of effect of the intervention was likely due to the poor attendance rate of the nutrition education classes. Conclusions and Implications Providing education on improving the comprehensive HFE may help improve certain HFE characteristics of freshmen residence halls. Research is needed to understand what motivates a student to choose to participate in campus-based nutrition education programs. Funding 2014-67001-21851.