Clinical trial NCT04318873: Evaluation of Demonstrations to End Childhood Hunger - CN DietQual
Official title: Evaluation of Demonstrations to End Childhood Hunger - CN DietQual
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Diet, Healthy
Keywords: Diet quality
Children
Fruit and vegetable voucher
Food box
Nutrition assistance
Lead sponsor: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Sponsor class: FED
Collaborators: name: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
First posted: 2020-03-24
Enrollment: 4750
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 4
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The 2010 Child Nutrition Reauthorization provided funding to test innovative strategies to end childhood hunger and food insecurity. Demonstration projects were funded in Chickasaw Nation, Kentucky, Navajo Nation, Nevada, and Virginia. This study focuses on Chickasaw Nation and the diet quality of child participants.

School districts were matched, and then one was randomly assigned to either a treatment (n=20) or control group (n=20). Treatment households received one food box per eligible child, per month, delivered to the household, which contained (1) shelf-stable foods, including 6 protein-rich items, 2 dairy items, 4 grain foods, 4 cans of fruit, and 12 cans of vegetables; (2) a nutrition education handout (e.g., a recipe); and (3) a $15 Fresh Check for frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables that participants could redeem at any of 38 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)-authorized stores or farmers' markets in the study counties. Control households did not receive the treatment benefits but still could participate in other available nutrition assistance programs.

Detailed description: Objective: To reduce childhood food insecurity and hunger, increase families' consumption of nutritious foods, increase the diversity of foods in the home, and ultimately improve diet quality and well-being among children.

Target Population: 40 school districts (115 schools) in 12 counties within the Chickasaw Nation territory in Oklahoma. Within these districts, households with school-age children (both Native American and non-Native American) who were eligible for free school meals or attended a school that participated in the community eligibility provision were eligible to participate in the project.

Intervention School districts were matched, and then one was randomly assigned to either a treatment (n=20) or control group (n=20). Treatment households received one food box per eligible child, per month, delivered to the household, which contained (1) shelf-stable foods, including 6 protein-rich items, 2 dairy items, 4 grain foods, 4 cans of fruit, and 12 cans of vegetables; (2) a nutrition education handout (e.g., a recipe); and (3) a $15 Fresh Check for frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables that participants could redeem at any of 38 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)-authorized stores or farmers' markets in the study counties. Control households did not receive the treatment benefits but still could participate in other available nutrition assistance programs.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 40 school districts (115 schools) in 12 counties within the Chickasaw Nation territory in Oklahoma.
* Within these districts, households with school-age children (both Native American and non-Native American) who were eligible for free National School Lunch Program meals or attended a school that participated in the community eligibility provision were eligible to participate in the project.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Daily consumed fruits and vegetables
timeFrame: 30 Days
measure: Daily consumed whole grains
timeFrame: 30 Days
measure: Daily consumed added sugars
timeFrame: 30 Days
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Food shopping frequency
timeFrame: 30 Days
measure: Type of grocery store used
timeFrame: 30 Days
measure: Distance traveled from home to grocery stores
timeFrame: 30 Days
measure: Number of family dinners per week
timeFrame: 30 Days
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
name: Michael Burke, PhD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Cabili C, Briefel R, Forrestal S, Gabor V, Chojnacki G. A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Home-Delivered Food Box on Children's Diet Quality in the Chickasaw Nation Packed Promise Project. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021 Jan;121(1S):S59-S69. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2020.08.012.