Reynolds KD, Franklin FA, Leviton LC, Maloy J, Harrington KF, Yaroch AL, Person S and Jester P
Health Education & Behavior, 27(2): 177-186, April 2000
High 5 is a school-based, multi-component nutrition intervention that aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among fourth-graders. It includes a 14-lesson classroom curriculum, activities for parents and children to do at home and a cafeteria focus on fruit and vegetable offerings. Researchers conducted a process evaluation of High 5 in 28 paired elementary schools (with one in each pair randomly assigned to an intervention group and the other to a usual-care control group). A total of 1,698 fourth-grade families participated. Evaluation activities included completion of activity checklists, curriculum assessments, classroom and cafeteria observations by research assistants, parent surveys, interviews of food service managers and assessment of the training of curriculum coordinators and food service managers and workers.
Key Findings:
- Well-trained High 5 personnel implemented the classroom curriculum with a high degree of fidelity and students received the intervention well.
- Family involvement was moderate. Kick Off Night attendance was low unless conducted at the same time as another school activity. Return rates were high (65 percent) with the first homework assignment but decreased to a low of 23 percent at the seventh, and last, assignment.
- The cafeteria component was well implemented and anecdotal evidence indicated a high degree of ownership and pride by cafeteria workers in their role in improving children’s dietary habits.
- Analysis by school ethnic composition and income levels found differences in time spent per lesson, attendance and homework return rates. Time spent per lesson was higher in schools with larger percentages of African-American and lower income children, while those schools had lower attendance and homework return rates.
Associated Grant ID: RWJF Staff
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