O21 Initial Evaluation of Louisiana's “Small Changes/Healthy Habits” Pilot Program

Abstract

Objective To conduct an initial evaluation of the effectiveness of the Small Changes/Healthy Habits (SCHH) community-based nutrition education curriculum on key food and physical activity behaviors among adults in Louisiana. Use of Theory or Research The SCHH curriculum is designed to influence the initiation and transition of small, healthy behavior goals into routine automatic behaviors (habits). It utilizes principles of the Transtheoretical Model and of habit formation models. Target Audience The evaluation targeted adults from all regions of Louisiana, who participated in the SCHH pilot and agreed to participate in the program evaluation. Program Description The SCHH curriculum is a four-part, hands-on series covering small goal setting and habit formation techniques; the home food environment; food labels and grocery store tour; and food preparation (knife/cooking skills). It was developed through the LSU AgCenter and piloted by AgCenter nutrition agents. Evaluation Methods For this section of the evaluation, a pre/post survey was developed and used to track short-term changes in eating, food-related, and physical activity behaviors of participants. Data is self-reported. Results Pre/post surveys were collected from 47 participants. This group was 86% White, 14% Black; 89% rural; 83% female; and 90% >50 years. Using the behavior improvement index, this group reported increases in consumption of vegetables (0.44), fruits (1.15), whole grains (0.17), and decreased soda intake (0.17). There were increases in frequency of label reading (29%), confidence to prepare healthy food (36%), and a decrease in consumption of meals prepared outside the home (27%). Participants increased physical activity by 9 minutes/day. All participants rated the program as “very good” or “excellent” and would recommend it to others. Conclusion The SCHH evaluation suggests that the program effectively influences healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. A larger pilot and longer-term evaluation will help predict influence on development of healthier lifestyles within our communities. Funding None.