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
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.
