It just really clicked: participant-perceived outcomes of community nutrition education programs

To understand participant-perceived outcomes of community nutrition education programs by low income adults.

A grounded theory approach using qualitative interviews.

Rural and urban communities in New York State and Pennsylvania.

18 current and past participants in nutrition education programs for low income adults.

Participants' perceived outcomes of community nutrition education programs.

Qualitative analysis derived from the constant comparative method.

Participants described program experiences in three linked thematic areas: (1) a range of motives for program enrollment; (2) current roles, challenges and resources as program contexts; and (3) participant-perceived outcomes experienced throughout the program that were linked to their motives for enrolling. Short- and medium-term outcomes, especially social outcomes, were important to participants; positive experiences were linked to later behavior change by participants, even among those who did not initially report change.

Participant-perceived outcomes and program satisfaction were linked to enrollment motives and modified by whether participants' current worlds provided resources to put learning into practice. Participant inputs such as enrollment motives and resources should be included in planning models, assessed at multiple points, matched to expected program outcomes, and used to guide teaching.