Predictors of long-term maintenance of changes in fruit and vegetables intake: a longitudinal analysis within a randomized controlled community trial

Background Individual characteristics can be associated with maintaining adequate FV intake over time. Thus, we aimed to identify factors associated with maintaining changes in fruit/vegetable (FV) intake at 48 months. Methods Longitudinal analysis of data from a randomized trial carried out in a health promotion service, including individuals with positive changes in FV intake after intervention. FV intake was assessed at 48 months, compared to 12 months to identify whether maintenance was associated with demographics, health data, stages of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance, using multivariate regression. Results We included 2,232 participants, 88.4% were women, 46.6% were maintainers at 48 months. Maintainers were older, had lower schooling and baseline FV intake, had been in the service for longer, and increased FV intake between 12 and 48 months while non-maintainers decreased it. Being older or in the service for 36 + months were associated with 1% and 30% higher odds of maintenance; higher baseline FV intake and self-efficacy were associated with 1% and 2% lower odds of maintenance. Conclusions Maintenance of changes in FV intake was associated with higher age, a longer time in the service, and lower baseline FV intake and self-efficacy. Health promotion services should aim for participant retention, and interventionists should pay attention to participants who might face more barriers for maintenance. Trial registration RBR-9h7ckx. Date of registration: August 12, 2015.