 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Gladys Block, PhD1, Torin J. Block2, Patricia Wakimoto, RD, DrPH1, and Clifford H. Block, PhD2. (1) School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, (510) 643-7896, gblock@uclink.berkeley.edu, (2) Block Dietary Data Systems, 2634 Le Conte Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709
An email-based internet program provides dietary screening and an individually-tailored dietary behavior-change intervention. The program is a fully automated 12-week program, requiring little or no staff attention. Participants complete brief dietary screeners assessing fat intake and fruit-vegetable-fiber intake, receive those results, and choose one of those dietary areas to work on. Weekly emails are based on behavior-change principles, and tailored to individual lifestyle characteristics, such as frequency of eating out, children at home, etc. Each email contains health information (e.g., the role of saturated fat in heart disease), tailored tips for improving their diet, and small goals to try the following week. It was piloted in a worksite, in which 84 employees completed the program and an evaluation. 83% tried to make changes in their diet. Almost half reported eating more fruit at the end of the program. Other reported changes: more salad, 34%; more vegetables, 45%; fewer hotdogs, 45%; fewer doughnuts, 49%. Over 70% said they learned something about their eating habits. 83% would recommend the program to others. 91.5% found the tips helpful, and over half talked with someone else about improving their diets. Substantial Stage-of-Change movement was seen: 2/3 to ¾ of those initially “not planning” or “thinking about” making dietary changes moved to a higher stage, for both fat intake and fruit/vegetable/fiber intake. This is a very cost-effective way to help employees and their families improve their dietary behaviors. It should be effective in other types of organizations as well, such as members of an HMO.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Clinical Prevention Services, Primary Prevention
Related Web page: www.nutritionquest.com
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Block Dietary Data Systems
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Founder, owner