Abstract
Background
The Junior Doctors of Health© (JDOH) program was developed from a collaboration between a large medical university, school district, and community organization to address obesity-related behaviors in children through education, skill building, and mentoring.
Purpose
Evaluate the impact of the JDOH program on self-efficacy for and intake of fruits, vegetables, and beverages among a sample of predominantly African American elementary students.
Methods
Pre- and postintervention surveys were administered to students in grades 4 through 6. A total of 224 students participated (intervention = 133, control = 91) across 5 schools. Independent t tests and mixed-model Poisson regressions were conducted to compare intervention and control groups.
Results
Self-efficacy was associated with significant differences in reported dietary behaviors, with results varying by gender. For boys, fruit intake increased significantly, and for girls, intake of fruit, green salad, carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables increased significantly.
Discussion
The results indicate that the JDOH program is a useful model for schools to provide nutrition education that may result in positive dietary behavior change among African American youth.