Improving Dietary Behavior Through Tailored Messages

Boston Medical Center1,224 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this study is to compare a Web-based system and a computer telephone system to determine their effectiveness in improving diet behaviors compared to each other and a control group.

The aim of this study is to compare a Web-based system (WEB-DIET) and a computer telephone system (TLC \[Telephone Linked Communications\]-DIET) for affecting dietary behavior change. These interventions will target the same dietary behaviors (consumption of fat and fruits and vegetables). The behavior change strategies and content will be derived from the same behavior change theory (the Transtheoretical Model \[TTM\]). A representative sample of \~1200 adults from a large urban area will be recruited through a list-assisted telephone list which will be bought by the University of Rhode Island so that subjects can be randomized into one of three groups: a Web-based system (WEB- DIET), a computer telephone system (TLC \[Telephone Linked Communications\]-DIET), or assessment only control. The study hypotheses, which will be evaluated both at the end of the 6-month intervention period and at the end of 18-month follow-up (post-baseline) observation period, are: 1. TLC-DIET\> Control 2. WEB-DIET\> Control 3. WEB-DIET\> TLC-DIET.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

1,224

Conditions

Cardiovascular Disease

Interventions

TLC-DietBEHAVIORAL

Participants receive diet intervention through an automated telephone system

WEB-DietBEHAVIORAL

Participants receive diet intervention through a web-based system

Assessment-only controlOTHER

Assessment-only control

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Be at risk with regard to saturated fat * Have access to basic computer hardware and software * Use the Internet regularly (defined as 1 times per week) and with basic proficiency * Read and speak English at a fifth grade level * Have access to a telephone and be able to use it independently. Exclusion Criteria: * Prescribed a diet that would conflict with a low saturated fat (e.g., a colectomy diet) * Have a serious medical, psychiatric, or cognitive disease that would interfere with participation (e.g., cancer undergoing chemotherapy, psychotic disorder, Alzheimer's disease, etc.) * If the individual does not use the Internet at least once a week

Locations (1)

Boston Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in diet from baseline to 6 months, 6 months to 18 months, and baseline to 18 months

Self-reported diet questionnaire to measure fat and fruits/vegetables

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, and 18 months

Secondary Outcomes

Change in psychosocial variables from baseline to 6 months, 6 months to 18 months, and baseline to 18 months

Additional theoretical variables, such as Stages of change, as measured by self-reported questionnaire

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, and 18 months

Change in diet variables from baseline to 6 months, 6 months to 18 months, and baseline to 18 months

Additional diet variables, such as total calories, trans fat, and carotenoids, as measured by self-reported food frequency questionnaire

Time frame: Baseline, 6 months, and 18 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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