Kristal, Alan R. (author), Patterson, Ruth (author), and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia MP 702, Seattle, WA 98104; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1124 Columbia MP 702, Seattle, WA 98104
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07879
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Ham, Mimeographed, 1994. 1 p. Presented at the Society for Nutrition Education, Portland, OR, July 16-20, 1994., This study examined diet-related psychosocial constructs and healthful diet. We analyzed data from a 1989-90 random digit dial survey of cancer-related risk behavior administered to 1,972 Washington State residents. Psychosocial constructs were belief in an association of diet and cancer, knowledge of NCI recommendations and food composition, and perceived pressure (norms) to eat a health diet. Diet measures were self-reported healthful diet changes over the previous 5 years, %energy from fat, and dietary fiber. Age and education were significantly (p<0.001) related to the constructs, with adults aged 35-59 having the strongest beliefs and the most knowledge. Among older adults, 50% of females and 57% of males did not believe diet was related to cancer, 32% and 44% could not recall a single NCI dietary recommendation, 21% had low knowledge of food consumption, and 37% of females and 41% of males felt no pressure to eat a healthful diet. Diet-cancer beliefs and knowledge were significantly (p<0.001) associated with healthful diet changes, lower fat intake, and higher fiber consumption. Individuals with high food composition knowledge consumed 2.3% less energy from fat and 1.1 grams more fiber compared to those with knowledge. Participants who reported they felt strong pressure to eat a healthy diet made 1.8 more healthful diet changes vs. those who felt no pressure, however, there was little association of norms with fat or fiber intake. Population-based studies are important because much of the research on improving diets has been performed in clinical settings, with small, select samples using individual counseling strategies; therefore neither the techniques nor results can be directly applied to community-based nutrition intervention programs. Our research suggests that intervention strategies which target beliefs and knowledge may help people adopt more healthful diets. Research should be done to explore whether interventions need to be specifically focused and tailored to have a positive impact on the diet of older Americans, since this subgroup had lowest levels of belief, knowledge, an norms.
Betts, Nancy M. (author), Glenn, Marty (author), Timmons, Patricia (author), and Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07884
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Ham, Mimeographed, 1994. 1 p. Presented at the Society for Nutrition Education, Portland, OR, July 16-20, 1994., As part of a larger project, we mailed 500 surveys to a random sample of 18 to 24 year olds. The purpose was to measure the influence of factors impacting food consumption. The survey included demographic items, a repertory grid of foods and factors influencing their intake, and a modified Block food frequency. The response rate was 39% (n=195) with 73 males and 122 females returning completed questionnaires. Results of a principle components factor analysis using varimax rotation identified three factors for both groups. For the males, Factor I identified advertising of foods eaten out as important. Factor 2 indicated a strong perception of the healthfulness of the food as a negative perception, with "fattening" foods considered not healthful. Factor 3 showed the expense of food as a negative perception. For the females, Factor 1 identified convenience and appearance as perceptions. Factor 2 was similar to the males'. Factor 3 indicated that social aspects of food and eating were important perception. This information can serve as a basis for creating effective nutrition education messages for young adults.
Haines, Pamela S. (author), Metz, Jill (author), Patterson, Ruth E. (author), and School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07877
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Ham, Mimeographed, 1994. 1 p. Presented at the Society for Nutrition Education, Portland, OR, July 16-20, 1994., The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which diet and health-related knowledge and attitudes explain differences in diet quality as measured by the Diet Quality Index (DQI). To date, empirical evidence linking attitude, knowledge and overall diet quality has been unavailable in a representative sample of the US population. The study sample included 880 men and women identified as primary meal planner - preparers who completed three days of dietary intake data as part of the 1989 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals and who completed the 1989 Diet and Health Knowledge Survey. The DQI is a multidimensional index of diet quality which scales and sums eight Diet and Health recommendations. Knowledge and attitude scales reflect elements of the Health Belief Model--susceptibility, personal importance of following dietary guidelines, diet and health awareness ,and nutrition knowledge. The proportion of the population achieving any one of the eight DQI guidelines ranged from 70% consuming less than 300 mg cholesterol per day to 15% consuming 5 daily servings of fruit and vegetables. 13.3% of diets were classified as good; 44.7% of diets were classified as fair or poor. Heightened diet and disease awareness (p=0.01) and level of nutrition knowledge (p=0.07) were positively and independently associated with better diet quality in mulitvariate analyses controlling for age, gender, income, race, education and selected household and lifestyle characteristics. In contrast, lower importance given to following the Dietary Guidelines (p=0.008) and greater susceptibility [more frequent responses that own diet ought to be lower in calories, fat, saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, and salt] (p=0.01) were associated with poorer overall dietary quality. Other factors associated with dietary quality included higher education, age over 40, being on a special diet, and reporting that nutrition was an important priority while grocery shopping. Factors independently and negatively associated with dietary quality included being under 40 and single, ever smoking at least 100 cigarettes, and being overweight. Gender, race, and income level did not explain additional variation in diet quality when knowledge and attitude variables were included in multivariate models. Results suggest nutrition knowledge and attitudes are independent predictors of the overall quality of diet.
Marks, Joe (author / Professor, Extension and Agricultural Information, University of Missouri)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07847
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Mimeographed, 1994. 8 p. Paper presented at the International Agricultural Communicators in Education Conference, Moscow, ID/Pullman, WA, July 16-20, 1994.
Glanz, Karen (author), Kristal, Alan R. (author), Patterson, Ruth E. (author), and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07878
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Ham, Mimeographed, 1994. 1 p. Presented at the Society for Nutrition Education, Portland, OR, July 16-20, 1994., This study examined relationships of common targets of nutrition interventions (predisposing and enabling factors) with current diet and intention to change diet. We analyzed baseline data from the Working Well Study, a randomized trial of health promotion intervention with 114 worksites and 37,291 workers. We constructed scales of predisposing factors (5 items on beliefs, benefits and motivation, alpha=.65) and enabling factors (6 items on barriers, norms and social support, alpha=.59), and examined their relationships with current diet (fat [%en] and fruits and vegetables [F&V, servings per day]) and intention and self-efficacy to improve diet (5 point scales). For predisposing factors, correlations were: .39 with fat; .32 with F&V; .45 with intention to decrease fat; and .41 with self-efficacy to increase F&V (all p<0.001). For enabling factors, corresponding correlations were .27, .23, .25, .24, .24 and .24 (all p<0.001). After control for age, sex, education, marital status and body mass index in multiple regression models, associations of predisposing factors with all diet measures remained significant (change in R-squared=.05-.17), but for enabling factors associations were very small (change in R-squared=.01-.04). These results suggest that predisposing factors strongly affect both current diet and intention to improve diet. Although enabling factors were only weakly associated with diet and intention to change diet, results of the Working Well Study will help determine whether interventions that enhance enabling factors can affect dietary change.
Baghurst, Katrine I. (author / CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition, PO Box 10041, Gouger Street, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
Australia
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07880
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Ham, Mimeographed, 1994. 1 p. Presented at the Society for Nutrition Education, Portland, OR, July 16-20, 1994., A national random survey of some 2000 adults throughout Australia was undertaken to establish the significance of a number of psychosocial factors that have previously been incorporated in a number of health behavior models, but this time in relation to food choice and nutrient profile. The factors assessed included cognitive control, morale, social support, rigidity, self esteem, self efficacy, locus of control, motivation to comply, normative beliefs, cues to action, concerns for health, barriers to change and perceived susceptibility, benefits and severity of outcome. Dietary intake was assessed using an extensive food frequency questionnaire with over 200 foods, including portion sizes and food preparation information. Demographic details were also collected on the respondents. The survey was undertaken using a postal format and had a response rate of 71%. The psycho-social factors were more significant determinants of intake in men than in women. For men, the major factors affecting nutrient profile (intake of fat, fiber, sodium, cholesterol, and refined sugar) were a strong belief in the benefits accruing from dietary change, perceived severity, concerns for health and, to a lesser degree, barriers to change, cues to action and rigidity in relation to food practice. Locus of control, self esteem, social support and morale were not significantly linked to any of the nutrient measures. In men, susceptibility related only to fat intake; normative beliefs, cognitive control and motivation to comply related only to fiber intake and self efficacy related only to sodium intake. For women, perceived benefits and barriers to change were the salient factors with rigidity relating significantly to refined sugar intake only. In women, no other psychosocial factor was significantly linked in univariate analysis. Multivariate and path analysis are currently being undertaken to determine the potential interactions between the variables in the model.
Chan, Mimi W. (author), Chapman, Karen M. (author), and Foods and Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1994
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 97 Document Number: C07903
Notes:
James F. Evans Collection, Ham, Mimeographed, 1994. 1 p. Presented at the Society for Nutrition Education, Portland, OR, July 16-20, 1994., Because attitudes about a topic can diminish the effectiveness of informational materials, previously identified attitudes concerning calcium intake were explored through focus group interviews. The purpose of this study was to clarify women's attitudes and behaviors toward calcium-related topics and nutrition education materials. Participants were recruited through Cooperative Extension Service, a church group, and the University of Illinois. Although four focus groups of 6-7 participants were planned, each group consisted of 2-6 women. All focus groups followed the same format, lasting for 1 to 1 1/2 hours; questions progressed from the general to more specific. Preliminary questions were directed at determining women's attitudes, interest, behavior, knowledge, and lifestyle. As the focus group interviews progressed, questions became more specific in assessing the nutrition education materials for readability, attractiveness, usefulness, age-appropriateness, and validity. Discussions also included whether dietary behavior change occurred as a result of educational materials, motivation to take materials home, and general use of materials. The focus group format allowed for in-depth discussions on the topics and provided rationale based on age and background knowledge. Motivating factors included prior interest in the topic and length of the materials. Many women mentioned that their busy lifestyles restricted them from reading long brochures. Younger women tended to underestimate the older women's ability to read smaller print size. Most importantly, neither younger nor older women felt that osteoporosis was a problem that their age group needed to address. Lastly, knowledge level of the general public was overestimated by one focus group comprised of graduate students. This study emphasized that women's attitudes about calcium intake and osteoporosis need to be addressed if nutrition education materials are to be effective.
