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The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating behaviors and social cognitive factors that affect fruit and vegetable consumption. Strategies to change, pros & cons, enjoyment, family support, and peer influence were measured in children ages 8–10 years both pre- and post- Zest Quest® program (pre: n = 82; post: n = 80). Children for a comparison group were selected from comparable elementary schools and pre- and post- measures were evaluated (pre: n = 92; post: n = 87). Chi-squared analyses were conducted on individual measures and Spearman correlations & linear regression were used for composite variables with fruit and vegetable consumption as the dependent variable. Results from the study demonstrated significant moderate correlations for fruit change strategies pre- (rs = 0.39) and post-intervention (rs = 0.33) and vegetable change strategies pre-intervention (rs = 0.42) in the Zest Quest® group. Peer influence (rs = 0.33) and enjoyment (rs = 0.38) showed significant moderate correlations with fruit intake in the comparison group. The regression analysis showed pros (β = 0.24, p value 0.05) and cons (β = 0.14, p value 0.05) to be significant predictors for fruit intake post-intervention in the Zest Quest® group. Prior to the intervention, strategies to change (β = 0.10, p value 0.02) was a significant predictor for fruit intake and cons (β = 0.15, p value = 0.03) for vegetable intake in this group. Family support and peer influence were not significant in the regression models, but demonstrated significance in the crude model. Eating behaviors and social cognitive factors may have an effect on fruit and vegetable consumption, but these measures are difficult to capture. Future research should continue exploring the impact of family support and peer influence on fruit and vegetable intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately two thirds of those older than 60 years have a hypertension diagnosis. The aim of our program, Health Coaches for Hypertension Control, is to improve hypertension self-management among rural residents older than 60 years through education and support offered by trained community volunteers called Health Coaches. Participants received baseline and follow-up health risk appraisals with blood work, educational materials, and items such as blood pressure monitors and pedometers. Data were collected at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks on 146 participants who demonstrated statistically significant increases in hypertension-related knowledge from baseline to 8 weeks that persisted at 16 weeks, as well as significant improvements in stage of readiness to change behaviors and in actual behaviors. Furthermore, clinically significant decreases in all outcome measures were observed, with statistically significant changes in systolic blood pressure (−5.781 mmHg; p = .001), weight (−2.475 lb; p < .001), and glucose (−5.096 mg/dl; p = .004) after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Although 40.4% of participants met the Healthy People 2020 definition of controlled hypertension at baseline, the proportion of participants meeting this definition at 16 weeks postintervention increased to 51.0%. This article describes a university–community–hospital system model that effectively promotes hypertension self-management in a rural Appalachian community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]