OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of computer-tailored newsletter interventions in improving the number and variety of fruits and vegetables eaten by adults. DESIGN: The 4-group randomized trial with pre- and postintervention measures consisted of a control group and 3 intervention groups receiving nontailored newsletters, computer-tailored newsletters, or tailored newsletters with tailored goal-setting information. Intervention groups received 1 newsletter each month for 4 months. SUBJECTS: Baseline surveys were completed by 710 health maintenance organization clients. Postintervention surveys administered 6 months after baseline were completed by 573 participants (80.8%). INTERVENTION: All newsletters contained strategies for improving fruit and vegetable consumption. Tailored newsletters used computer algorithms to match a person's baseline survey information with the most relevant newsletter messages for promoting dietary change. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Daily intake and weekly variety of fruits and vegetables were measured using a food frequency questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Analysis of covariance and Tukey's honestly significant difference test were used to assess differences in the number and variety of fruits and vegetables consumed among intervention groups. RESULTS: For persons completing postintervention surveys (n = 573), all 3 newsletter groups had significantly higher daily intake and variety scores compared with the control group. Although there was a trend of improved intake and variety with each added newsletter element, there were no significant differences at follow-up among the newsletter groups. CONCLUSIONS: Newsletters can be effective in improving the fruit and vegetable consumption of adults. In this study, a computer-tailoring system did not significantly enhance the effect of the nutrition newsletters on fruit and vegetable intake.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of computer-tailored newsletter interventions in improving the number and variety of fruits and vegetables eaten by adults. DESIGN: The 4-group randomized trial with pre- and postintervention measures consisted of a control group and 3 intervention groups receiving nontailored newsletters, computer-tailored newsletters, or tailored newsletters with tailored goal-setting information. Intervention groups received 1 newsletter each month for 4 months. SUBJECTS: Baseline surveys were completed by 710 health maintenance organization clients. Postintervention surveys administered 6 months after baseline were completed by 573 participants (80.8%). INTERVENTION: All newsletters contained strategies for improving fruit and vegetable consumption. Tailored newsletters used computer algorithms to match a person's baseline survey information with the most relevant newsletter messages for promoting dietary change. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Daily intake and weekly variety of fruits and vegetables were measured using a food frequency questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Analysis of covariance and Tukey's honestly significant difference test were used to assess differences in the number and variety of fruits and vegetables consumed among intervention groups. RESULTS: For persons completing postintervention surveys (n = 573), all 3 newsletter groups had significantly higher daily intake and variety scores compared with the control group. Although there was a trend of improved intake and variety with each added newsletter element, there were no significant differences at follow-up among the newsletter groups. CONCLUSIONS: Newsletters can be effective in improving the fruit and vegetable consumption of adults. In this study, a computer-tailoring system did not significantly enhance the effect of the nutrition newsletters on fruit and vegetable intake.
Authors: Dariush Mozaffarian; Ashkan Afshin; Neal L Benowitz; Vera Bittner; Stephen R Daniels; Harold A Franch; David R Jacobs; William E Kraus; Penny M Kris-Etherton; Debra A Krummel; Barry M Popkin; Laurie P Whitsel; Neil A Zakai Journal: Circulation Date: 2012-08-20 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: John P Pierce; Vicky A Newman; Loki Natarajan; Shirley W Flatt; Wael K Al-Delaimy; Bette J Caan; Jennifer A Emond; Susan Faerber; Ellen B Gold; Richard A Hajek; Kathryn Hollenbach; Lovell A Jones; Njeri Karanja; Sheila Kealey; Lisa Madlensky; James Marshall; Cheryl Ritenbaugh; Cheryl L Rock; Marcia L Stefanick; Cynthia Thomson; Linda Wasserman; Barbara A Parker Journal: J Nutr Date: 2007-10 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Hilde M van Keulen; Ilse Mesters; Johannes Brug; Marlein Ausems; Marci Campbell; Ken Resnicow; Paul J Zwietering; Gerard van Breukelen; Willem van Mechelen; Johan L Severens; Hein de Vries Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2008-06-19 Impact factor: 3.295