Diet and colorectal cancer risk: Evaluation of a nutrition education leaflet

Objective To evaluate the effect of a needs-based, nutrition education leaflet on nutritional knowledge. Design Comparison of nutritional knowledge levels before and after exposure to a nutrition education leaflet. Setting A regional colorectal out-patient clinic in Edinburgh. Method A nutrition education leaflet, based on an earlier needs-assessment, was used in the study. Patients attending an out-patient clinic with colorectal symptoms were invited to participate. Nutritional knowledge was determined using a validated questionnaire in a semi-structured interview. In Group A, nutritional knowledge was determined at baseline and after exposure to the leaflet. In Group B, nutritional knowledge was determined after exposure to the leaflet and again one month later. Results In Group A (n=35), there was a significant increase in awareness of the '5 fruit and vegetables a day' (46 per cent v 91 per cent, p