Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among callers to the CIS

Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among callers to the CIS

The Cancer Information Service (CIS) helps thousands of callers with questions about cancer every month through its 1-800-4-CANCER telephone service. This study aimed to determine whether providing educational materials to CIS callers would increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. After first answering callers' questions, we asked callers who were not cancer patients if they would be willing to answer some questions about their consumption of fruits and vegetables. We then educated half of the callers about why eating more fruits and vegetables is healthy and helps to prevent cancer. To these callers, we also mailed booklets that show how to eat more fruits and vegetables. The study demonstrated that the callers who were educated about eating fruits and vegetables were eating over half a serving of fruits and vegetables each day more than the callers who were not.

Principal Investigator: Al Marcus, Ph.D.

Collaborator: Sharon Davis, M.P.A. (NCCC)

Funding Source: National Cancer Institute

Publications:
Marcus, AC, et al. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among callers to the CIS: Results from a randomized trial. Preventive Medicine, 27, S16 -28 (1998).

Marcus, AC, et al. A randomized trial of a brief intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake: a replication study among callers to the CIS. Preventive Medicine 2001;33(3):204-216.