Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

NC 219 has four main objectives. This year objective3 was targeted: To determine the effectiveness of stage-tailored intervention modalities by testing the efficacy of the intervention compared to a non-treated control across diverse low-income populations [of 18-24 year olds]. NC219 participants collectively recruited 2042 low income young adults, staged their fruit and vegetable intakes, randomized them to control and intervention groups, then proceded with the study protocol to meet the project goals. For the intervention group this included sending stage-tailored newsletters, individualized progress reports, and making educational phone calls. More specific procedures are delineated in the Journal of Extension publication listed in the publication section. 1255 subjects completed the study, data analyses are underway and interpretation of findings are forthcoming as noted in the meeting minutes. Activities in the coming year will include completion of data analysis, manuscript development, and addressing the Objective 4 of NC219: To extend findings to a specific set of recommendations for community-based practitioners.

Ruud, J.S., Betts, N.M., Kritsch, K, Nitzke, S., Lohse, B., Boeckner, L. Acceptability of stage-tailored newsletters about fruits and vegetables by young adults. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. (In Press) Greene, GW, Fey-Yensan, N, Padula, C, Rossi, S, Rossi, JS, Clark, PG (2004). Differences in Psychosocial Variables by Stage of Change for Fruits and Vegetables in Older Adults. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 104:1236-1243. Nitzke, S., Kritsch, K., Lohse, B., Horacek, T., White, A., Greene, G., Georgiou, C., Betts, N., Boeckner, L. (2004). Extension and research professionals join forces to address a critical nutrition issue. Journal of Extension 42(5):1-7. Accessed at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2004october/iw1.shtml. The F&V Connection to feeling good and looking hot. The Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS) Multi-state Research Team. Supported by the USDA grant to Iowa State University, Kansas State University, University of Maine, Michigan State University, University of Nebraska, Oregon State University, University of Rhode Island, South Dakota State University, Syracuse University, Tuskegee University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. URI NFS Department 2003. Shafer KJ, Lohse B, Carbone ET. Cognitive interviewing in nutrition education: Development of a user manual for Native Americans. Journal of Nutrition Education 36 (Suppl 1):S51; 2004. Stotts J, Lohse B, Shafer K, Boeckner J, Kritsch K, Nitzke S. Educational telephone calls in a stage-of-change tailored intervention serve a dual purpose as an intervention and in-progress quality measure. The FASEB Journal 18(5):A847;2004. Leek, V. Jan 2005 Best method to recruit 18-24 year old low-income, thesis. South Dakota State University. Deana Novembrino: Differences between perceived intake and measured intake of fruits and vegetables in college aged students. May 2004. University of Rhode Island. Doctoral Dissertation. Shafer, Kimberly. January 7, 2005. A Descriptive Study of Native American Young Adults' Cognitive Reactions to Components of a Stage-Based Nutrition Education Intervention about Fruits and Vegetables. Kansas State University.