Validation of a Novel Method to Evaluate Community-Based Interventions That Improve Access to Fruits and Vegetables

Louisa Ewald, Kate E. LeGrand, Claire-Lorentz Ugo-Ike, Sally Honeycutt, Jennifer L. Hall, Emmanuela Gakidou, Ali H. Mokdad and Gregory A. Roth ()
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Louisa Ewald: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
Kate E. LeGrand: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
Claire-Lorentz Ugo-Ike: American Heart Association, Dallas, TX 75231, USA
Sally Honeycutt: American Heart Association, Dallas, TX 75231, USA
Jennifer L. Hall: American Heart Association, Dallas, TX 75231, USA
Emmanuela Gakidou: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
Ali H. Mokdad: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
Gregory A. Roth: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA 98105, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Current evaluation tools are inadequate for assessing the impact of small-scale interventions, such as farmer’s markets or community meal programs, on fruit and vegetable consumption. This study analyzes the pilot data of a novel tool designed to evaluate community-based programs’ impact on fruit and vegetable consumption. Our research addresses the gap in effective evaluation methods for dietary behaviors within underserved populations. Methods: The survey tool was developed through a participatory research approach involving interest holders and community members. We conducted a pilot survey across four community-based programs, validated the findings, and compared them against the data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Results: This pilot survey demonstrated a high completion rate of 98.2%. Notably, 62.5% of respondents reported an increased consumption of fruits and vegetables since participating in the programs and cited cost, time, and accessibility as primary barriers to healthy eating. There is a strong, though not significant, correlation of 0.876 ( p = 0.12) between the pilot data of prevalence of daily fruit and vegetable consumption and the national average. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the survey tool effectively captures dietary behaviors and the influence of community-based programs. Further research is required to enhance its applicability in diverse settings and extend robust impact evaluation methods for these programs.

Keywords: community-based programs; social determinants of health; fruit consumption; vegetable consumption; dietary behaviors; survey methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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