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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Richard A. Winett, PhD¹, Eileen S. Anderson, EdD², Janet R. Wojcik, PhD¹, and Sheila G. Winett, MS³. (1) Williams Hall, CRHB, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, 540 231 8747, rswinett@vt.edu, (2) Williams Hall, CRHB, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, (3) PCR, Inc., 221 N. Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060

Purpose: To assess the effects of the Guide to Health (GTH) Internet delivered program in churches with and without supports on nutrition, physical activity, and, secondarily, body weight.

Methods: Group randomized design with 14 Baptist or United Methodist churches assigned to GTH-Only (N=5), GTH-Plus Supports, (N=5), or a wait-list control (C, N=4). Assessments were at baseline, post-test and follow-up (16 months after baseline). There were 1071 participants, 33% male, 23% African-American, 57% overweight or obese (BMI >= 25), 60% sedentary (< 7500 steps/day), median age = 53 years. Measures were verified pedometer step counts, a composite nutrition measure using the Block FFQ and food shopping receipts, and measured bodyweight.

GTH is a tailored 12-module, interactive Internet delivered program based on social cognitive theory focused on increasing daily step counts, increasing fruits and vegetables (F&V) and dietary fiber, and decreasing fat through changes in targeted foods. Church supports in GTH-Plus included publicly posted, nutrition and step-count goal setting, tracking, and feedback.

Results: Participants in GTH-Plus compared to C increased steps at post (1147 steps/day, p<.05) and follow-up (1059/day, p<.01), marginally decreased percent kcal/fat at post (1.43%, p<.10) and follow-up (1.44%, p<.10), increased servings of F & V at post (0.46 servings/1000 kcal, p<.01) and follow-up (0.42 servings/1000 kcal, p<.05), increased fiber at post (0.79 g/1000 kcal, p<.05) and follow-up (.65 g/1000 kcal, p<.05), and decreased weight at post (.85 kg, p<.05).

Conclusions: GTH-Plus showed positive shifts that can be improved with enhanced self-regulation and supports.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how to use social cognitive theory as a basis for developing Internet and church based health behavior interventions that can help prevent cancer and other diseases.
• Understand the key role of self-regulation and supports for health behavior change.
• Undestand how to empirically evaluate a complex intervention.
• Understand how to simplify the intervention for greater use.

Keywords: Prevention, Communication Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation