259998 Project EAT: Evaluation of a web-based secondary prevention training program for eating disorders

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM

Rita DeBate, PhD, MPH, CHES , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Herb Severson, PhD , Deschutes Research, Inc., Senior Research Scientist, Eugene, OR
Deborah Cragun, MS , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Laura Merrell, MPH, CPH , Department of Community & Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Steve Christiansen, BA , InterVision Media, Eugene, OR
Anne Koerber, DDS, PhD , Pediatric Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, Chicago, IL
Scott L. Tomar, DMD, DrPH , Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Kelli McCormack Brown, PhD , College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL
Lisa Tedesco, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
William Hendricson, MA, MS , Assistant Dean for Education and Faculty Development, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
  
Introduction: Eating disorders represent a significant public health problem with specific effects on oral tissue. These effects provide the oral health care provider (OHP) with a clinical opportunity for eating disorder- specific secondary prevention (i.e., early detection of oral signs, oral treatment, and referral). The purpose of this study was to evaluate Project EAT: Evaluate, Assess, Treat, an innovative theory-driven web-based training program aimed at increasing the capacity of dental (D) and dental hygiene (DH) students to engage in secondary prevention. Methods: Employing the RE-AIM evaluation framework, a longitudinal group-randomized controlled trial involving 27 OHP classes (14 D, 13 DH) assigned to either the training program (Intervention; n = 15 classes, 286 participants) or to instruction-as-usual (Control; n = 12 classes, 215 participants) was conducted. A web-based questionnaire assessed perceived patient susceptibility/severity regarding disordered eating behaviors, attitudes and beliefs regarding identifying and addressing signs of disordered eating, and related knowledge. Results: After adjusting for baseline levels and confounders, analyses revealed statistically significant improvements among Intervention participants compared with Control regarding knowledge of eating disorders and oral findings; perceived patient susceptibility; perceived barriers; procedural knowledge; and self-efficacy regarding secondary prevention behaviors (all p<.001). Intervention effects were similar among D and DH students. Conclusion: The web-based training program leads to improvement in key factors previously found to be associated with engagement in behaviors promoting secondary prevention of eating disorders among practicing OHPs.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe components of Project EAT, a eating-disorder specific secondary prevention program; Describe RE-AIM evaluation framework; Discuss secondary prevention psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of the theory-driven web-based training program among dental and dental hygiene students.

Keywords: Oral Health, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of the NIH study represented by the submitted abstract
Any relevant financial relationships? 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.

Back to: 5150.0: Oral Health Promotion, Health Communications and Social Media (Organized jointly with Oral Health)