Application of the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model in the evaluation of a community-based youth fitness and nutrition summer camp program

Background: The PRECEDE-PROCEED Model is an effective and adaptable program planning tool that has been widely used in the design, implementation and evaluation of health promotion programs. Objective: To retrospectively apply the constructs of the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model to a community-based youth fitness and nutrition summer camp program (Champ Camp) and to identify and describe how the program can be improved based on the findings of the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model evaluation. Design: A systematic application of the nine phases of the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model applied retrospectively to evaluate and improve the Champ Camp program. Setting: Children participating in Champ Camp offered through a seven-week summer camp coordinated by Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront of Burlington, Vermont. The summer camp served as a licensed childcare program for children entering first through fifth grade. Measures: Improvements in nutrition knowledge and fitness scores measured biweekly. Additionally, the retrospective application of the planning model determined valuable demographic, behavioral, environmental, and policy information about the community. Statistical Analysis: A repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to determine if there was a statistically significant change over time in nutrition knowledge and physical fitness. Statistical analysis was also performed to determine if there were potential correlations between nutrition knowledge and performance on each fitness assessment individually. Results: The Champ Camp program significantly improved nutrition assessment scores for males. Additionally, there were statistically significant improvements in the fitness assessment scores for the ball throw within third through fifth grade males and females across the seven-week program. The retrospective application of the PRECEDEPROCEED Model proved to be successful in identifying the demographic, behavioral and environmental influences, and resources and invested parties of the target population. Most importantly the model emphasized the use of SMART program goals and objectives within successful health promotion programs. The model also stressed the necessity for appropriate and validated nutrition and fitness assessment tools that would offer more generalizable data. Moreover, the model also emphasized the need for stronger program evaluation by including more process evaluative measures and defining the determinants in which the programs’ effectiveness and efficiency would be measured. Conclusions: The unique application proved to be a valuable and fruitful method for evaluating and identifying areas for improvement within a community-based youth fitness and nutrition summer camp program. This research not only serves to improve the existing Champ Camp program but to highlight the importance of program planning models and the critical components of successful health promotion programs.