In this trial, researchers seek to augment the benefits of Our Value by adding community health workers (CHWs) to deliver the intervention and adapting and testing its effectiveness in rural communities in central Washington State. People in these rural areas experience social and structural barriers to the consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV), such as limited access to fresh, varied, affordable FV and long commutes to food retailers. Yet, these communities also have a strong identity and supportive community networks; thus, our partners endorsed training CHWs to deliver the intervention. CHWs are known for effective delivery of health promotion interventions to reduce health disparities; they are recognized as trusted and respected leaders in rural communities.
To test the implementation and effectiveness of the adapted intervention, researchers use a hybrid type I cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) study design and apply the Retail Food Environment and Customer Interactions Model and RE-AIM framework. The study will occur in three rural counties in Washington State.
To evaluate the effects of the intervention on customers, the research team will conduct customer surveys to measure fruit and vegetable purchasing and eating.
The proposed study will contribute to reducing access to FV-related chronic disease health disparities in rural areas through behavioral-, store-, and community-level intervention. The study will shed light on the nuances, resources, and challenges of conducting health promotion and disease prevention research in rural areas. The results will provide new tools and evidence for researchers and practitioners to translate and implement evidence-based interventions in rural communities, and community-level health promotion interventions to reduce health disparities.
