Volume 25, Issue 4: August, 1998

Abstract

THE IMPACT OF COMPUTER-TAILORED FEEDBACK AND ITERATIVE FEEDBACK ON FAT, FRUIT, AND VEGETABLE INTAKE

Johannes Brug, PhD, MSc
Karen Glanz, PhD, MPH
Patricia Van Assema, PhD, MSc
Gerjo Kok, PhD, MSc
Gerard J. P. van Breukelen, MD, PhD

A randomized trial was conducted to study the impact of individualized computer-generated nutrition information and additional effects of iterative feedback on changes in intake of fat, fruits, and vegetables. Respondents in the experimental group receive d computer-generated feedback letters tailored to their dietary intake, intentions, attitudes, self-efficacy expectations, and self-rated behavior. After the first feedback letter, half of the experimental group received additional iterative feedback tail ored to changes in behavior and intentions. The control group received a single general nutrition information letter in a format similar to the tailored letters. Computer-tailored feedback had a significantly greater impact on fat reduction and fruit and vegetable intake than did general information. Iterative computer-tailored feedback had an additional impact on fat intake. The results confirm that computer-generated individualized feedback can be effective in inducing recommended dietary changes and th at iterative feedback can increase the longer term impact of computer- tailored nutrition education on fat reduction.