Nutritious eating with soul dissemination and implementation study: Design and methods of a type II hybrid effectiveness trial implemented in vegan restaurants

BACKGROUND: Vegan diets provide health benefits for adults, particularly African American adults who have disproportionate rates of overweight or obesity. Restaurant-based interventions are a potential means to encourage vegan diets for African American adults but there is limited dissemination and implementation (D&I) research on restaurant-based interventions in general or specifically in this context. OBJECTIVES: To report the protocol, methods and design of the Nutritious Eating with Soul D&I (NEW Soul D&I) study, a type II hybrid effectiveness trial lasting 12 weeks for African American adults. METHODS: The study will partner with two vegan soul food restaurants to implement the program. African American adults with overweight or obesity will be randomized to: (1) weekly nutrition classes plus weekly meal vouchers or (2) weekly meal vouchers plus one class at the end. Effectiveness outcomes are changes in body weight, blood pressure, and diet quality. Implementation outcomes are acceptability, appropriateness, cost, fidelity, and feasibility. CONCLUSIONS: NEW Soul D&I seeks to improve the health of African American adults and test and refine a packaged intervention for broader dissemination and reach in vegan soul food restaurants in the southeastern United States.