J Brug1. 1. Netherlands Open University, Department of Social Sciences, Heerlen. hans.brug@ouh.nl
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present paper is to describe the essential elements of computer-tailored nutrition education and to study the impact of written computer-tailored nutrition education in comparison to general written nutrition advice. DESIGN: The impact of computer-tailored nutrition education was studied in three randomised trials as compared to general nutrition education. The data of the three studies were taken together and re-analysed. SUBJECTS: Random samples of employees at two work sites and a self-selected sample of the Dutch adult population. The total number of subjects was 1309. Response rates were between 45% in one of the work sites and 88% in the self-selected sample. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects in the experimental condition received computer-tailored nutrition education. With computer-tailoring, expert individualised nutrition education can be realised through an automated process for relatively large target groups with relatively low costs per person. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The impact on changes in fat intake were studied. The use and appreciation of the intervention was also assessed. RESULTS: Subjects who received computer-tailored advice had a lower mean fat score at post-test, adjusted for baseline intake levels. Subjects who received tailored advice were more likely to have read and discussed the nutrition advice. CONCLUSION: The results point to the conclusion that printed computer-tailored nutrition education is superior to general written nutrition education.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present paper is to describe the essential elements of computer-tailored nutrition education and to study the impact of written computer-tailored nutrition education in comparison to general written nutrition advice. DESIGN: The impact of computer-tailored nutrition education was studied in three randomised trials as compared to general nutrition education. The data of the three studies were taken together and re-analysed. SUBJECTS: Random samples of employees at two work sites and a self-selected sample of the Dutch adult population. The total number of subjects was 1309. Response rates were between 45% in one of the work sites and 88% in the self-selected sample. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects in the experimental condition received computer-tailored nutrition education. With computer-tailoring, expert individualised nutrition education can be realised through an automated process for relatively large target groups with relatively low costs per person. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The impact on changes in fat intake were studied. The use and appreciation of the intervention was also assessed. RESULTS: Subjects who received computer-tailored advice had a lower mean fat score at post-test, adjusted for baseline intake levels. Subjects who received tailored advice were more likely to have read and discussed the nutrition advice. CONCLUSION: The results point to the conclusion that printed computer-tailored nutrition education is superior to general written nutrition education.
Authors: Hannah Forster; Marianne C Walsh; Clare B O'Donovan; Clara Woolhead; Caroline McGirr; E J Daly; Richard O'Riordan; Carlos Celis-Morales; Rosalind Fallaize; Anna L Macready; Cyril F M Marsaux; Santiago Navas-Carretero; Rodrigo San-Cristobal; Silvia Kolossa; Kai Hartwig; Christina Mavrogianni; Lydia Tsirigoti; Christina P Lambrinou; Magdalena Godlewska; Agnieszka Surwiłło; Ingrid Merethe Fange Gjelstad; Christian A Drevon; Yannis Manios; Iwona Traczyk; J Alfredo Martinez; Wim H M Saris; Hannelore Daniel; Julie A Lovegrove; John C Mathers; Michael J Gibney; Eileen R Gibney; Lorraine Brennan Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2016-06-30 Impact factor: 5.428