The primary objective of this study is to compare the differences in fruits and vegetable intake and physical activity from pre- to post- study between the intervention and control groups (i.e. the difference in differences). The study involves the use of web-based educational materials over a four week period. The investigators hypothesize that those in the intervention group will show a greater increase in fruit and vegetable intake and engage in more physical activity than those randomized to the control group. Eligible breast and colorectal cancer survivors from the UNC Health Registry/Cancer Survivorship Cohort (UNC HR/CSC) will be selected, consented, and randomized to either the intervention or control group. Both groups will fill out baseline surveys. The intervention group will receive a total to 4 newsletters for 4 weeks and at the beginning of week 5, they will asked to complete the follow-up survey online. The intervention newsletters focus on increasing physical activity and healthy diets. The control group will receive 4 newsletters in the same time frame as the intervention. The focus of the control group's newsletters will be on topics relevant to cancer survivors (e.g. getting back to work after treatment, managing finances) but will not focus on physical activity or diet. All contact with participants will take place online (i.e. surveys and newsletter delivery) from the study web site.
This study is adapted from the WATCH (Wellness for African Americans Through Churches) Project. WATCH was a randomized trial among 587 African American members of 12 rural North Carolina churches that demonstrated the effectiveness of a mailed tailored print and video intervention consisting of four individually tailored newsletters and targeted videos to improve diet and physical activity behaviors: there were significant improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption (0.6 servings) and recreational physical activity (2.5 MET-hours per week), and a non-significant decrease in fat intake in the intervention churches. The overall goal of this application is to conduct a study (called "eWellness") to investigate whether the WATCH tailored print messages and videos can be effectively and efficiently disseminated to a different population (breast and colon cancer survivors) and using a different delivery channel (electronic technology via the internet and world wide web.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
49
4 tailored newsletters focused on improving healthy diet and physical activity delivered at weekly intervals.
4 non-tailored newsletters focused on issues relevant to cancer survivors (e.g. returning to work)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Mean Fruit and Vegetable Score
Fruit and vegetable consumption will be adapted from a 35-item measure used in a trial for US Blacks adapted from a 35-item measure for US Southern blacks that measures frequency of intake during the previous month. Score measures can range from 2-24. Positive or better outcomes are reflected by higher mean fruit and vegetable scores.
Time frame: Month 6
Summary Fruit and Vegetable Score
The frequency of fruit and vegetable intake will be measured during the previous month, using a 2-item measure (How many servings of fruits do you eat each day?) and a similar question for vegetables that assesses usual vegetable intake. Scores can range from 0-N with higher scores indicating more fruit and/or vegetable intake.
Time frame: Month 6
Metabolic Equivalent Task Hours (METs) for Physical Activity
Moderate to physical activity will be assessed and frequency of different types of activity, with response options of: don't do, 1-3 times/month, 1-2 times/week, 3-4 times/week, or 5 or more times/week. Items include various types of activities gathered from an 11-item instrument modified for cultural appropriateness from a previous study. For each activity, participants estimate duration as either \<20 minutes or 20 or more minutes per session. Physical activity is then calculated in terms of metabolic equivalent task hours (METs) per week. MET values for energy expenditure were assigned to each activity based on validated instruments.21 MET-hours are computed by multiplying frequency times duration (converted to hours/week) times the MET value. Reported physical activity time can range from 0 minutes - 6 hours or more for reported sedentary behaviors. Higher reported values equate to better reported outcomes of increased physical activity for participants.
Time frame: Month 6
Recruitment rate
Recruitment rate is defined as the number of screened participants that meet eligibility criteria divided by the number of individuals screened.
Time frame: Month 6
Percentage of Participants Completing the Intervention and Follow-Up Assessments
Retention
Time frame: Month 6
Number of Newsletters Read/Downloaded
Participant Adherence
Time frame: Month 6
Program Process Evaluation
This will be assessed with process evaluation questions at follow-up survey and metrics of website use (e.g. number of times visiting site). Questions will ask about participants' perceptions and experiences with the intervention and may provide valuable information about how to modify the programs for future use in this population. Measures will be adapted from those used in our previous studies and assess ease of use, intervention instructions and length, attractiveness, perceived personal relevance, recall, credibility, novelty, and usefulness for making healthy changes, and satisfaction with intervention components. Higher values will represent better outcomes for program process evaluation.
Time frame: 6 months
Number of Times Visiting the Site
An evaluation of website metrics will be conducted to assess program acceptability.
Time frame: 6 months
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