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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #336384
Title: Development of a nutrition education intervention for food bank clients

Author
item DAVE, JAYNA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe
item SVENDSEN-SANCHEZ, ANN - University Of Houston
item MCNEILL, LORNA - Md Anderson Cancer Center
item JIBAJA-WEISS, MARIA - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Health Promotion Practice
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2016
Publication Date: 11/29/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63311
Citation: Dave, J.M., Thompson, D.J., Svendsen-Sanchez, A., McNeill, L., Jibaja-Weiss, M. 2016. Development of a nutrition education intervention for food bank clients. Health Promotion Practice. doi:10.1177/1524839916681732.

Interpretive Summary: The focus of this article is the development of a nutrition education intervention for food bank clients. Interviews, focus groups and questionnaires were used to assess the nutrition education needs of clients obtaining food from the Houston Food Bank (HFB). Participants were HFB and pantry staff and clients. Interview and focus group data were coded and analyzed, and themes were then identified. Questionnaire data were analyzed for frequencies and descriptives. Data were used to tailor the curriculum to the target population. HFB staff, pantry staff from 17 pantries, and clients from 10 pantries participated in interviews and focus groups and completed questionnaires. The participants provided opinion on the current nutrition education provided via the food bank and made suggestions on strategies for development of an intervention. Their feedback was used to develop the six-session intervention curriculum to be delivered over 6 months. This article provides evidence that it is critical for members of the target audience be included in the development of behavior change programs that are relevant and appealing and target their needs and interests.

Technical Abstract: The focus of this article is the development of a nutrition education intervention for food bank clients. Formative research using mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) and community-based participatory research principles was conducted to assess the nutrition education needs of clients obtaining service from the Houston Food Bank (HFB). Participants were HFB and pantry staff and clients. Interview data were coded and analyzed using grounded theory approach. Themes were then identified. Quantitative data were analyzed for frequencies and descriptives. Data were used to tailor the curriculum to the target population. Six HFB staff, 49 pantry staff from 17 pantries, and 54 clients from 10 pantries participated in interviews and focus groups and completed questionnaires. The participants provided opinion on the current nutrition education provided via the food bank and made suggestions on strategies for development of an intervention. Their feedback was used to develop the six-session intervention curriculum to be delivered over 6 months. This research provides evidence that it is critical for members of the target audience be included in formative research to develop behavior change programs that are relevant and appealing and target their needs and interests.