TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9
Poster Session: Wellness and Public Health The Ideal Food Pantry as Designed by Food Pantry Customers Author(s): J. P. Kuhls,1 D. L. Habash,2 J. E. Clutter,3 C. K. Spees,3 K. N. Wolf3; 1 Graduate Program in Allied Medicine, The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH, 2 Medical Dietetics and Health Sciences; Clinical Research Center, The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH, 3Medical Dietetics and Health Sciences, The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH Learning Outcome: After reading/listening to this abstract presentation, the participant will be able to describe food pantry customers’ perceptions of preferred distribution of food and ideal design of a pantry. Food pantries have the potential to address both food insecurity and poor diet quality by distributing a variety of nutritional foods at no cost to low-income families. However, because traditional food pantries pre-pack boxes for distribution, the capability of providing food based on family needs or preferences is limited. To better understand how the pantries may be able to adapt to better meet the needs of the clients, 64 clients were interviewed to determine their ideal pantry design. Questions addressed the foods it would carry, items that should never be carried, preferred selection process and other services the pantry would provide. Interviewers visited five diverse sites across Central Ohio to administer an open-ended questionnaire developed by experts in food pantry delivery. Interview data were coded, categorized by theme and primary pattern and used to develop a Word Cloud. The participants expressed sincere gratitude for these services, summarized by one client, “I am so grateful.” The customers preferred to choose their foods for two primary reasons: to meet food preferences; and to limit food waste. Many reported “choice” assists them in meeting their personal, health-related, agespecific, ethnic and cultural preferences and needs. Many thought choice would provide an opportunity for more fresh foods and fewer boxed meals and canned goods, while also allowing the customer to have some snack items for their children. Toiletry items and health care were two items participants wished could be found in the pantries. Overall, the customers’ ideal pantry design was similar to a grocery store.
Text2bhealthy: A Pilot Nutrition Texting Program Targeting Parents of SchoolAged Children Author(s): L. Worthington,1 E. M. Braunscheidel,1 L. Lachenmayr,1 S. Grutzmacher,2 K. Speirs,2 J. DiBari,2 L. Messina,2 A. Munger2; 1Food Supplement Nutrition Education, University of Maryland Extension, Columbia, MD, 2 School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD Learning Outcome: To determine the effectiveness of a text messaging program targeting parents of school aged children on health behaviors. Traditional direct nutrition education programs in elementary schools are effective in reaching children but are difficult to replicate and sustain when trying to reach parents. It is important to consider how parents want to be reached in a convenient and quick way. Approximately 96% of parents have the capability of receiving text messages and 81% have unlimited text message plans. Text messaging has been shown to be an effective tool in reaching individuals and triggering behavior change, however there is limited research around its effectiveness for nutrition education. Maryland’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education (SNAP-Ed) developed a texting program to reach parents of children enrolled in schools with SNAP-Ed nutrition education. Messages are targeted, actionable nudges about school/community nutrition opportunities and physical activity. The pilot program enrolled 8 schools across Maryland; 6 intervention and 2 control schools. Pre test surveys were sent to approximately 3000 parents to determine fruit/vegetable consumption and physical activity prior to enrollment and post test surveys will be sent after completion of the program. Parents could enroll in the program by texting a keyword unique to their child’s school. Enrollment was voluntary and targeted for those with unlimited text messages. An e-mail option was also provided for participants that do not have unlimited text message plans. Messages were sent 2-3 times/week with evaluation questions texted throughout the program to evaluate behavior change. Analysis of evaluation data will be completed during the summer 2012.
Funding Disclosure: Cardinal Health Foundation
Funding Disclosure: Funding for the SNAP-Ed program is provided by USDA in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Human Resources and the University of Maryland Extension
Dual Risk of Diabetes and Tobacco Use: Promoting Wellness by Training Health Professionals to Refer
Assessing Leftover Food Safety Knowledge and Behaviors from a Social Marketing Campaign Website
Author(s): J. D. Keith,1 M. Williams,2 M. Gutierrez1; 1Research and Evaluation Group, PHMC, Philadelphia, PA, 2Health Promotion Council of Southeastern PA, Philadelphia, PA
Author(s): K. James,1 J. A. Albrecht,1 R. Litchfield,2 C. Weishaar,3 C. Larvick,4 C. Schwarz,5 J. Temple6; 1Nutrition and Health Sciences, Univ. of NebraskaLincoln, Lincoln, NE, 2Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA, 3Communications & External Relations, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA, 4 Extension, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dakota City, NE, 5Extension, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kearney, NE, 6Extension, Iowa State Univ., Iowa City, IA
Learning Outcome: Describe the application of an Ask Advise Refer training. Purpose: Diabetes and tobacco use/exposure are a dangerous combination negatively impacting diabetes control in our most vulnerable populations. Background: The statewide initiative PA cAARds! is an integrated brief intervention and referral model developed to address the dual risks of unmanaged diabetes and tobacco by training health professionals in an Ask, Advise, Refer (AAR) brief intervention. PA cAARds! facilitates and promotes the use of local and statewide resources to manage diabetes, quit tobacco and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. This poster will describe the program, its evaluation, preliminary findings and future applications. Methods: Along with a unique collaborative interdisciplinary structure, a mixed-method evaluation is used to assess the program and inform decisions over time. Key outcomes include: program reach; trainee buy-in; resource knowledge; referral confidence; and referral behavior. Results: PA cAARds! has trained over 300 individuals representing over 150 organizations in face-to-face and web-based settings. Trainees come from fields related to diabetes and chronic disease management/education, and tobacco cessation. At the end of the training, trainees who provide direct services report AAR as a useful interdisciplinary tool (99%) and almost all intended to refer their clients/patients as part of PA cAARds! (97%). Before and after referral confidence ratings significantly increased among trainees and more than 1,560 referrals to diabetes and tobacco cessation services have already been reported. Conclusions: PA cAARds! is a promising program model with application in a variety of settings to benefit clients with risks factors, like tobacco use, that impact diabetes.
Learning Outcome: To assess the knowledge and behaviors of individuals on leftover food safety practices. The social marketing campaign “4 Day Throw Away” was launched in November 2010 and was designed to increase the awareness of food safety practices primarily in the area of leftovers. A website was developed for individuals to have a place to learn more about the campaign and those involved as well as to find important information about safe leftover practices. Polling questions and leftover myths were created by nutrition educators and registered dietitians to be displayed on the website. These questions rotated every couple weeks and asked individuals questions about their behaviors and knowledge on leftover topics. A total of 400 responses were polled since the launch of the campaign. When asked how long leftovers stay in the refrigerator before being used the most frequent answer chosen was 3-4 days. Over 53% of respondents reported that they threw out leftovers they brought home from a restaurant before 4 days. When determining if leftovers are alright to eat, 55% of respondents said they label leftovers and use them within 4 days. The “4 Day Throw Away” website was an effective tool in assessing individuals’ leftover knowledge and behaviors. The majority of individuals responded to the polling questions in a manner that represent safe food handling practices. Funding Disclosure: USDA-CSREES Project 2008-51110-19237
Funding Disclosure: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
September 2012 Suppl 3—Abstracts Volume 112 Number 9