Development and validation of a stages of change algorithm for calcium intake for college female students.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a staging algorithm for calcium intake.


METHODS
Three hundred seventy-six college-aged females at a private university were randomly selected to participate. After 8.5% of the data were omitted due to incomplete surveys, the sample consisted of 344 female participants. Calcium intake was measured as self-reported consumption with a 26-item food frequency questionnaire. Stages of change classifications were based on a four-item algorithm for calcium intake, and self-efficacy was measured with three items.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found between calcium intake levels between precontemplation, contemplation/preparation and action/maintenance. Results also showed that 40% of the participants were in action/maintenance and were consuming the Dietary Reference Intake level of 1,000 mg of daily calcium. Participants in the action and maintenance stages had significantly higher self-efficacy than the preaction group.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that the stages of change algorithm may be used as an effective tool in assessing daily calcium intake among a college female population.
Tucker
L J
LJ
Department of Health and Fitness, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA.
Snelling
Anastasia M
AM
Adams
Troy B
TB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009825:Oklahoma; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
D002136:Calcium, Dietary