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Factors Influencing Participation in the Vermont Senior Farm Share Program
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
Poster Session: Wellness and Public Health Characterizing Nonconventional Food Outlets within an Urban Environment
Factors Influencing Participation in the Vermont Senior Farm Share Program
Author: S.W. Theuri; Food and Nutrition, Univ. of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN
Author(s): R. Shah, L. Berlin, A. Nickerson; Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to describe characteristics of nonconventional food outlets in an urban environment. Background: Underserved, low-income urban neighborhoods are faced with poor access to healthy foods. Low-income residents in our study receive food aid from nonconventional food outlets such as food pantries, food banks, soup kitchens and community gardens, which make up 44% of fruit and vegetables (F&V) available in a Southwestern Indiana urban food desert. Other outlets are farmer’s markets and food stands. Objective: Our aim was to interview managers of these food outlets to characterize availability of F&V in order to understand the consumer nutrition environment. Methods and Analysis: Managers from 35 nonconventional outlets plus farmer’s markets and food stands were invited to participate in this cross sectional study. Managers provided F&V records and responded to 37 structured interview questions. Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe F&V access. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Data from 16 completed interviews showed 20% of the outlets were open for 5 days or more. Only 10% of outlets receive free F&V donations, 53% grow their own and 24% have to buy the F&V they distribute out to consumers. Apples and green beans were the most commonly distributed produce. July through August was the period in which most variety was typically available. Few operation days, inadequacy of farmers, finances, labor and land were barriers to F&V access (P ¼.055).
Learning Outcome: Readers will be able to list two factors that were important to VT Senior Farm Share Program participants. The Vermont Senior Farm Share Program (SFSP) is a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program that provides older adults living in subsidized housing in Vermont with fresh, locally-grown produce from July through October. This study aimed to determine which factors, based on constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), correlated with a greater intent to consume fresh produce during non-SFSP months. 394 of 863 SFSP recipients returned a 10 item survey including questions about perceived social influence, perceived control of lifestyle factors, and attitudes regarding their SFSP experience. Respondents were categorized by housing site, location type (based on Census Bureau geographical classification), county and whether or not their housing site is a SASH (Support and Services at Home, a VT senior housing program) facility. Several hypotheses were tested using Spearman correlation coefficient in order to determine statistically significant relationships. No significant correlations were found between the TPB constructs and an increased intent to consume produce during the non-SFSP months. However, this study found significant correlations when comparing other factors. Specifically, respondents living in more rural communities placed greater importance on the social aspects of the program and those in more urban areas placed greater importance on program convenience. These results provide better insight into what older Vermonters value, and can be considered by the program administration team when making future program modifications or by community organizations when developing nutrition interventions intended for older adults in Vermont. Funding Disclosure: None
Conclusion: Strategies to overcome barriers in outlets studied and increasing their capacity may increase F&V access for the residents. Funding Disclosure: Welborn Foundation
Minimizing Memory Errors in Child Dietary Assessment with a Wearable Camera: Formative Research
If You Build It Will They Come? Nutrition Programs Rural Adults Reported They Would Most Likely Attend
Author(s): A. Beltran1, H. Dadhaboy1, C. Lin1, W. Jia2, J. Baranowski1, T. Baranowski1; 1 Pediatrics, Children’s Nutrition Res. Ctr., Baylor Coll. of Med., Houston, TX, 2Department of Neurosurgery, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Author(s): A. Tallant1, M. Rettig2; 1The Honors College, Western Carolina Univ., Cullowhee, NC, 2Dietetic Internship Program, Western Carolina Univ., Cullowhee, NC
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify the advantages of using pictures for diet assessment. Background: Self-reported dietary assessment is fraught with error among adults and especially among children. Pictures taken by an eButton may provide more accurate assessments of intake. This method has not been validated among children, which requires an understanding of its acceptance and procedural use. This study reports qualitative data on impressions after children wore the eButton for a meal and an entire day; and quantitative data on the accuracy of portion estimation using an electronic wire mesh. Methods: In Study 1(summer of 2014), 21 8-13 yo children wore two different weight eButtons for one meal in our laboratory and were interviewed. Volume was estimated in all foods across four analysts. In study 2 (winter of 2014-2015), 10 8-13yo children wore the eButton for one full day at home and school, and participated in a food picture verification interview. Volume was estimated with a food picture verification procedure. Analysis: Interviews were double coded. Intra-class correlations were calculated across portion size estimates from the known amount served with four analysts. Results: Most of the parents and children thought it would be fine to wear the eButton for 2-3days at a time. Intra-class correlation among the four analysts was 0.59. Diverse problems for volume estimation using the software were identified. Conclusions and implications: At this time, food identification and portion size estimation using images needs to be accompanied by systematized food picture verification in children. When size is reduced, the eButton, is a promising tool to decrease memory error in child diet assessment. Funding Disclosure: Grant name: Minimizing Memory Errors in Child Diet Assessment5R21CA172864-02
A-86
JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify the top three nutrition programs that rural-dwelling adults reported they would be most likely to attend free of charge. Background: Research suggests that rural residents bear a greater risk of making unhealthy dietary choices. To address such nutrition disparities, this research, part of a larger mixed methods study, aims to fill gaps in the literature by focusing on baseline quantitative survey results related to nutrition programs that adults living in rural Appalachia would be most likely to participate in free of charge. Methods: A convenience sample of adults (n¼113) in seven western North Carolina (NC) counties volunteered to take a closed-ended 28-question survey developed by the researchers and piloted prior to administration. Participants, age 18 and older, were given a list of possible programs and asked which ones they would be most likely to participate in. Lickert scale response options were unlikely (1), not sure (2), and likely (3). Results: Descriptive analysis showed that about half of those surveyed (52%) would likely participate in onsite cooking demonstrations. Similarly, almost half (49%) indicated they would be likely to participate in onsite menu planning. In addition, 45% indicated a likelihood of participating in food preservation education and 36% reported a likelihood of participating in community supported agriculture education. Conclusion: Improving diets through interventions must incorporate environmental contexts to be successful. Though not generalizable to all rural populations, nutrition and dietetics professionals can use these findings to inform their programming and interventions. Nutrition and dietetics professionals should incorporate patient and audience feedback to design appealing programs that seek to improve nutritional status. Funding Disclosure: Made possible with funding from the North Carolina Community Transformation Grant Project and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 2015 Suppl 2—Abstracts Volume 115 Number 9
Poster Session: Wellness and Public Health Characterizing Nonconventional Food Outlets within an Urban Environment
Factors Influencing Participation in the Vermont Senior Farm Share Program
Author: S.W. Theuri; Food and Nutrition, Univ. of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN
Author(s): R. Shah, L. Berlin, A. Nickerson; Univ. of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to describe characteristics of nonconventional food outlets in an urban environment. Background: Underserved, low-income urban neighborhoods are faced with poor access to healthy foods. Low-income residents in our study receive food aid from nonconventional food outlets such as food pantries, food banks, soup kitchens and community gardens, which make up 44% of fruit and vegetables (F&V) available in a Southwestern Indiana urban food desert. Other outlets are farmer’s markets and food stands. Objective: Our aim was to interview managers of these food outlets to characterize availability of F&V in order to understand the consumer nutrition environment. Methods and Analysis: Managers from 35 nonconventional outlets plus farmer’s markets and food stands were invited to participate in this cross sectional study. Managers provided F&V records and responded to 37 structured interview questions. Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe F&V access. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Data from 16 completed interviews showed 20% of the outlets were open for 5 days or more. Only 10% of outlets receive free F&V donations, 53% grow their own and 24% have to buy the F&V they distribute out to consumers. Apples and green beans were the most commonly distributed produce. July through August was the period in which most variety was typically available. Few operation days, inadequacy of farmers, finances, labor and land were barriers to F&V access (P ¼.055).
Learning Outcome: Readers will be able to list two factors that were important to VT Senior Farm Share Program participants. The Vermont Senior Farm Share Program (SFSP) is a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program that provides older adults living in subsidized housing in Vermont with fresh, locally-grown produce from July through October. This study aimed to determine which factors, based on constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), correlated with a greater intent to consume fresh produce during non-SFSP months. 394 of 863 SFSP recipients returned a 10 item survey including questions about perceived social influence, perceived control of lifestyle factors, and attitudes regarding their SFSP experience. Respondents were categorized by housing site, location type (based on Census Bureau geographical classification), county and whether or not their housing site is a SASH (Support and Services at Home, a VT senior housing program) facility. Several hypotheses were tested using Spearman correlation coefficient in order to determine statistically significant relationships. No significant correlations were found between the TPB constructs and an increased intent to consume produce during the non-SFSP months. However, this study found significant correlations when comparing other factors. Specifically, respondents living in more rural communities placed greater importance on the social aspects of the program and those in more urban areas placed greater importance on program convenience. These results provide better insight into what older Vermonters value, and can be considered by the program administration team when making future program modifications or by community organizations when developing nutrition interventions intended for older adults in Vermont. Funding Disclosure: None
Conclusion: Strategies to overcome barriers in outlets studied and increasing their capacity may increase F&V access for the residents. Funding Disclosure: Welborn Foundation
Minimizing Memory Errors in Child Dietary Assessment with a Wearable Camera: Formative Research
If You Build It Will They Come? Nutrition Programs Rural Adults Reported They Would Most Likely Attend
Author(s): A. Beltran1, H. Dadhaboy1, C. Lin1, W. Jia2, J. Baranowski1, T. Baranowski1; 1 Pediatrics, Children’s Nutrition Res. Ctr., Baylor Coll. of Med., Houston, TX, 2Department of Neurosurgery, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Author(s): A. Tallant1, M. Rettig2; 1The Honors College, Western Carolina Univ., Cullowhee, NC, 2Dietetic Internship Program, Western Carolina Univ., Cullowhee, NC
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify the advantages of using pictures for diet assessment. Background: Self-reported dietary assessment is fraught with error among adults and especially among children. Pictures taken by an eButton may provide more accurate assessments of intake. This method has not been validated among children, which requires an understanding of its acceptance and procedural use. This study reports qualitative data on impressions after children wore the eButton for a meal and an entire day; and quantitative data on the accuracy of portion estimation using an electronic wire mesh. Methods: In Study 1(summer of 2014), 21 8-13 yo children wore two different weight eButtons for one meal in our laboratory and were interviewed. Volume was estimated in all foods across four analysts. In study 2 (winter of 2014-2015), 10 8-13yo children wore the eButton for one full day at home and school, and participated in a food picture verification interview. Volume was estimated with a food picture verification procedure. Analysis: Interviews were double coded. Intra-class correlations were calculated across portion size estimates from the known amount served with four analysts. Results: Most of the parents and children thought it would be fine to wear the eButton for 2-3days at a time. Intra-class correlation among the four analysts was 0.59. Diverse problems for volume estimation using the software were identified. Conclusions and implications: At this time, food identification and portion size estimation using images needs to be accompanied by systematized food picture verification in children. When size is reduced, the eButton, is a promising tool to decrease memory error in child diet assessment. Funding Disclosure: Grant name: Minimizing Memory Errors in Child Diet Assessment5R21CA172864-02
A-86
JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
Learning Outcome: Participants will be able to identify the top three nutrition programs that rural-dwelling adults reported they would be most likely to attend free of charge. Background: Research suggests that rural residents bear a greater risk of making unhealthy dietary choices. To address such nutrition disparities, this research, part of a larger mixed methods study, aims to fill gaps in the literature by focusing on baseline quantitative survey results related to nutrition programs that adults living in rural Appalachia would be most likely to participate in free of charge. Methods: A convenience sample of adults (n¼113) in seven western North Carolina (NC) counties volunteered to take a closed-ended 28-question survey developed by the researchers and piloted prior to administration. Participants, age 18 and older, were given a list of possible programs and asked which ones they would be most likely to participate in. Lickert scale response options were unlikely (1), not sure (2), and likely (3). Results: Descriptive analysis showed that about half of those surveyed (52%) would likely participate in onsite cooking demonstrations. Similarly, almost half (49%) indicated they would be likely to participate in onsite menu planning. In addition, 45% indicated a likelihood of participating in food preservation education and 36% reported a likelihood of participating in community supported agriculture education. Conclusion: Improving diets through interventions must incorporate environmental contexts to be successful. Though not generalizable to all rural populations, nutrition and dietetics professionals can use these findings to inform their programming and interventions. Nutrition and dietetics professionals should incorporate patient and audience feedback to design appealing programs that seek to improve nutritional status. Funding Disclosure: Made possible with funding from the North Carolina Community Transformation Grant Project and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 2015 Suppl 2—Abstracts Volume 115 Number 9