Responses of older adults to theory-based nutrition newsletters

Objective To evaluate the effect of a theory-based newsletter on knowledge, attitude, and behavior change in older adults. Design Pretest-post,test, random assignment, and treatment-control design w ith 2 treatment groups: 1 that received newsletters only and 1 that receive d newsletters with follow-up telephone interviews. Control group completed pretest-posttest surveys only. Subjects/setting Four hundred eighty men and women, aged 60 to 74 years, we re recruited to participate in a home-based educational intervention using a patient list generated from a rural tertiary care hospital database, Geis inger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. Intervention Five nutrition newsletters designed using the nutrition commun ication model and adult learning theory principles were mailed biweekly. Te lephone interviews followed each of the 5 newsletters 10 to 14 days after d istribution. Outcome measures Nutrition knowledge and interest, food behavior related to dietary fat, and stages of change for dietary fat and fiber. Statistical analyses performed Analysis of covariance was used to determine group differences in posttest outcome measures using pretest as covariate. Results In addition to achieving higher scores than the control group, the treatment groups were significantly different from each other in correct an d perceived nutrition knowledge at posttest. Those in the treatment group r eceiving telephone calls scored higher (mean change= 19.0% for correct and 20.3% for perceived) than those who received the newsletters only (mean cha nge= 12.5% for correct and 14.3% for perceived; P < .05). Treatment groups also rated their interest in nutrition higher than the control group did; t here was no between-treatment difference. Treatment groups performed signif icantly better than the control group for dietary fiber stage of change (P < .05). Those receiving only newsletters scored significantly better than t he control for the "avoid fat" food behavior (P < .05). Applications/conclusions This study provides an example of the incorporatio n of a theoretical model in development and evaluation of newsletters. Home -delivered nutrition newsletters based on this model can communicate health and nutrition information to older adults. Consumers today have more oppor tunities than ever before to access nutrition information quickly and inexp ensively. Newsletters can help dietetics professionals filter and limit wha t consumers must process, saving clients time and improving the accuracy of information obtained. Dietetics professionals in both clinical and communi ty practice are uniquely positioned to provide highly focused and understan dable information to consumers via a newsletter format.