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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Clifford H. Block, PhD¹, Barbara Sternfeld, PhD², Torin Block, BA¹, Jean Norris, DrPH¹, and Gladys Block, PhD³. (1) Block Dietary Data Systems, 15 Shattuck Square, Suite 288, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-704-8514, clifbus@aol.com, (2) Kaiser Division of Research, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, (3) School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 426 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720

Background. The creation of cost-effective interventions to facilitate healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors is an extremely high public health priority, particularly interventions that can be applied in a variety of institutional settings. An existing prototype system showed both technical feasibility and potential scientific merit in a 12-week pilot study, but did not include physical activity. Methods. We are developing and evaluating the efficacy of a cost-effective, 4 month, 12-session computerized diet and physical activity intervention program. This program is unique in its capacity to “push” intervention materials on a regular basis, through email. Approximately 800 employees of Northern California Kaiser Permanente are being randomized to intervention or control groups. Participants choose to work on one of three topics: 1) increase physical activity; 2) increase fruit and vegetable consumption; 3) decrease sugars, saturated and trans fats, and increase ‘good fats' and whole grains. Messages are tailored to individual dietary and physical activity habits, stages of change, and lifestyle characteristics such as frequency of eating out. The program includes weekly goal-setting, individually-tailored tips, and scientific information on health and behavior. Interactive features include a diet and physical activity simulation tool, tracking of successful goals and approaches, and a full-length dietary questionnaire. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, four months (conclusion of the intervention) and eight months (for long-term effects), using physical activity and dietary questionnaires developed for the project, and other measures. This presentation will discuss the behavioral and information technology methodologies, operational lessons from the ongoing trial, and early results.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate the importance and operational issues involved in delivering an emailed intervention in a workplace setting.
• Better understand the role of technology in tailoring health behavior change messages

Keywords: Nutrition, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Organization	Clinical/Research Area	Type of Relationship
BLOCK DIETARY DATA SYSTEMS	HEALTH PROMOTION SYSTEMS	Stock Ownership

Any company-sponsored training?	No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?	Yes
Have you received salary support, retainer, or other monies to support your position as part of the research/clinical trials?	Yes
Have you served as the Principal Investigator) for the research/clinical trials?	Yes
Have the results of your research/clinical trials been published?	No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Recorded presentation