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Pacheco, Erin J.

Nutritional and Food Sciences

2005

MS

Objective: To examine whether it is feasible to recruit and retain general Internet users into a fruit and vegetable intervention Web site as well as to investigate the feasibility of designing a research study around Internet recruited subjects. Design: A 6-month on-line intervention in which participants were surveyed at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months to determine fruit and vegetable intake and stage of change movement according to the Transtheoretical Stages of change model. At each measurement a tailored message was delivered based upon individual responses. Subjects were encouraged to utilize Web site resources aimed at improving fruit and vegetable intake. At 3-months and 6-months, intervention and computer attitudes were assessed. Subjects/setting: A total of 459 subjects were recruited through the Internet with 77 subjects remaining at 3-months, and 39 subjects completing the study. Statistical analyses performed: T-tests examined differences over time for fruit and vegetable intake and stage of change. Spearman's rank test correlated servings per day, attitudes, and stages of change. Results: Six-month subjects significantly increased fruit and vegetable intake (p<0.005). Six-month subjects who were eating less than 5 servings per day at baseline, significantly advanced their stage of change from baseline to 3-months (p<0.01), as well as servings per day (p<0.01). As subjects responded more negatively to the intervention, mean servings per day tended to decrease (r=0.420, p<0.005). Also, subjects with lower intervention attitudes were more likely to be at a lower stage of change (r=0.344, p<0.05). Conclusion: The Internet is an effective means for delivering nutrition interventions to the general public.