Purpose: Intake levels of fat, fruit and vegetables are not in accordance with recommendations for most people. Nevertheless many people do not intend to change to healthier diets. Lack of awareness of personal intake is thought to be a major barrier in motivating people to behavior change. Based on the Precaution Adoption Process personalized feedback on intake levels is proposed as a strategy to influence awareness. Computer-tailored, personalized feedback is a very promising strategy to encourage people to change their diets. The present study examined two personalized feedback interventions: a web-based computer-tailored nutrition education program and a written self-test. The interventions were tested against a control condition in which general nutrition information was provided.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial, with a pre-test post-test design, was conducted. Three hundred adults participated in the study. Outcome measures were awareness and intention to change and appreciation of the intervention.
Results: Anovas and Ancovas showed significant differences in awareness and intentions between the tailored intervention group and both the self-test and control groups. There were no significant differences between the self-test group and the control group. Furthermore, the tailored intervention was appreciated best.
Conclusions: It was concluded that a web-based tailored nutrition education program is a promising means to make people aware of their dietary intake levels and thus motivating them to change to a healthier diet. Self-tests did not outperform the control condition, therefore, self-tests seem to be not more effective in influencing awareness and motivation to change than general nutrition information.
Learning Objectives: None
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.