Perceived benefits and barriers of increased fruit and vegetable consumption: validation of a decisional balance scale.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate scales to assess perceived benefits and barriers (decisional balance) for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.


METHODS
A cross-sectional mail and telephone survey was conducted.


METHODS
A total of 1200 Chinese households were randomly selected from the Singapore residential telephone listings, and 71% responded to the mail survey; 390 males and 406 females participated (mean age = 39.3).


METHODS
Decisional balance, stage of change, and fruit and vegetable consumption were measured.


METHODS
Using a split-half sample approach, developmental sample responses were analyzed by principal-components analysis and validation sample responses by confirmatory factor analysis. Analyses of variance were used to examine stage differences in decisional balance.


RESULTS
Principal-components analysis indicated two components representing benefits (or pros) (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) and barriers (or cons) (alpha 0.79) of change. Confirmatory factor analysis strongly supported the two-component structure (Goodness of Fit Index = 0.97). There was a shift from cons to pros being more important across the stages. The increase in pros across the stages of change (p < 0.0001) corresponded to a medium effect size, and the decrease in cons (p < 0.01) corresponded to a small effect size.


CONCLUSIONS
Decisional balance scales may be used to guide interventions to influence fruit and vegetable consumption.
Chuan Ling
A M
AM
Department of Nutrition, Level 5, Institute of Health, Singapore 168937. Annie_LING@MOH.gov.sg
Horwath
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables