Intention to change nutrition-related behaviors in adult participants of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015 Jan-Feb;47(1):81-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2014.08.009. Epub 2014 Sep 27.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether participation in selected Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) lessons had an impact on the intent to improve nutrition-related behaviors of participants.

Methods: A quantitative study using a retrospective post-then-pre design to measure SNAP-Ed outcomes of 203 adult participants after selected nutrition lessons in 14 counties across the state of Utah. After the intervention participants completed a retrospective post-then-pre survey evaluating intent to improve nutrition behaviors related to the SNAP-Ed lessons. Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni correction and paired t test were used.

Results: Participants reported sometimes engaging in nutrition related behaviors before attending SNAP-Ed lessons and intent to usually engage in these behaviors after attending SNAP-Ed lessons.

Conclusion and implications: This study demonstrated that participation in selected SNAP-Ed lessons was positively related to the intent of participants to improve nutrition-related behaviors.

Keywords: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education; Theory of Planned Behavior; activity; fruit; grains; nutrition education; program evaluation; vegetable.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Diet Surveys
  • Female
  • Food Assistance
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutrition Policy*
  • Nutritional Sciences / education*
  • Patient Compliance*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Utah
  • Young Adult