Watch Me Grow: A garden-based pilot intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake in preschoolers
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN34755197 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN34755197 |
| Protocol serial number | N/A |
| Sponsor | Duke University Medical Center (USA) |
| Funder | Duke University Medical Center (USA) |
- Submission date
- 27/11/2012
- Registration date
- 13/12/2012
- Last edited
- 13/12/2012
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims:
Current fruit and vegetable consumption in children is low. There are few studies which promote fruit and vegetable intake, which have targeted children in child care, despite the fact that younger children are more likely influenced by adults in an eating environment. The objective of this pilot study is to assess whether Watch Me Grow (WMG) can become a sustainable, inexpensive way to increase vegetable consumption in pre-schoolers while attending child care.
Who can participate?
Child care centers in North Carolina, which care for children between the ages of 3 5 years.
What does the study involve?
Child care centers were allocated to receiving the The Watch Me Grow (WMG) programme first, or receiving it at a later date. WMG is designed to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption among children in child care. Centers given the programme at a later date, received a garden and the curriculum materials, but not the regular technical assistance visits.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Centers will benefit from receipt of an on-site garden. Children enrolled at the center may benefit from increased consumption of fresh vegetables. To reduce the chance of harm, only non poisonous crops will be grown at the child care centers. There are no known risks of participating in the study.
Where is the study run from?
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study began in March 2011 and is expected to run until November 2013.
Who is funding the study?
Duke University Medical Center, USA
Who is the main contact?
Rebecca Brouwer
Rebecca.brouwer@duke.edu
Contact information
Scientific
Duke University Medical Center
Box 104006
Durham
27710
United States of America
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Watch Me Grow: A garden-based pilot intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake in preschoolers a randomized controlled trial |
| Study acronym | WMG |
| Study objectives | Children in intervention child care centers, compared with children in control centers, will increase their consumption of fruit and vegetables more from pre- to post-intervention. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Duke University Medical Center, 17 August 2010, ref: Pro00025325 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Child Nutrition |
| Intervention | Centers allocated 1:1 to WMG intervention or delayed WMG intervention. We compare the Watch Me Grow (WMG) garden-based intervention to a delayed intervention. WMG is a crop-a-month curriculum and garden intervention designed to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption among children in child care. The intervention includes 1. Nutritional counseling to providers on low-cost ways to increase fruits and vegetables on the child care menu 2. Delivery of a multi-disciplinary pilot curriculum promoting fresh produce to providers and children and 3. Assistance establishing child care center gardens to get providers and children excited about growing their own fresh crops Centers in the delayed intervention will receive a garden and the curriculum materials, but will not receive regular technical assistance visits. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Servings of vegetables consumed by children in child care measured pre intervention and one month post intervention |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Servings of vegetables served to children in child care measured pre intervention and one month post intervention |
| Completion date | 11/01/2013 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 20 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Center directors in North Carolina who care for at least 3 children between the ages of 3 and 5 |
| Key exclusion criteria | Center directors outside of North Carolina, or those who do not care for children between the ages of 3 and 5 |
| Date of first enrolment | 03/01/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 11/01/2013 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United States of America
Study participating centre
27710
United States of America
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
