Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among callers to the CIS: Results from a randomized trial

Background. Results are reported from a large randomized trial designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among callers to the Cancer Information Service (CIS). Methods. CIS callers assigned to the intervention group received a brief proactive educational intervention over the telephone at the end of usual service, with two follow-up mailouts. Key educational messages and print material derived from the NCI 5 A Day for Better Health program were provided to intervention subjects. Subjects were interviewed by telephone at both 4-week (n = 1,672) and 4-month (n = 1,286) follow-up. Results. A single-item measure of fruit and vegetable consumption revealed a significant intervention effect of approximately 0.65 servings per day at 4- week follow-up (P < 0.001) and 0.41 servings per day at 4-month follow-up (P < 0.001). Using a seven-item food frequency measure that was also included in the 4-month interviews, a similar intervention effect of 0.34 servings per day was obtained (P = 0.006). The vast majority of CIS callers (88%) endorsed the strategy of providing 5 A Day information proactively. Conclusions. A brief educational intervention delivered to CIS callers at the end of usual service was associated with an increase in self-reported fruit and vegetable intake.