Impact of group nutrition education and surplus value of Prochaska-based stage-matched information on health-related cognitions and on Mediterranean nutrition behavior

This study compares the effect of two interventions focussed on the promoti on of Mediterranean nutrition behavior, The target groups are persons with three risk factors for development of cardiovascular disease, The study reg ion is a socio-economically deprived area in the Netherlands, The first int ervention consisted of three meetings in which the positive health effects of a Mediterranean diet were discussed in group sessions, In the additional intervention stage-matched information based on the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change was given. Both intervention groups were compared with a control group, which received only a printed leaflet with the Dutch nutri tional guidelines. At baseline the three subgroups were comparable and afte r 16 weeks both intervention strategies resulted in significant changes in comparison with the control condition, For fish consumption, both strategic s resulted in more positive attitudes, social norms, stronger intentions, m ore progress in stage of change and better nutritional intake, For fruit/ve getables consumption, the effects of both strategies were limited to stage of change and nutritional intake, Additional individually stage-matched tai lored letters did not result in more progress on any of the dependent varia bles, We conclude that substantial nutritional behavior change can be achie ved by interactive group education in socioeconomically deprived population groups.