The STRENGTH Ezine: an application of e-mail for health promotion in adolescent girls.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have investigated the efficacy of e-mail for promoting behavior change. This study evaluates the participation in and outcomes associated with an e-mail-based health promotion program.


METHODS
Adolescent girls aged 15 to 17 years were recruited at a shopping mall. Participants with an e-mail address were assigned to the interactive e-mail magazine (Ezine) group (n = 37), whereas those not reporting an e-mail address were assigned to the non-Ezine group (n = 33). Participants in the Ezine group received the health Ezine, which included a quiz and an advice column, on a weekly basis.


RESULTS
Results indicate that among the Ezine group, there was a high recall of the Ezine (81.1%), and more than one third of the participants replied to Ezine volumes with quiz answers or an advice question (36.6%). Differences in health behavior change between the Ezine and non-Ezine groups were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
E-mails on health-related matters can generate moderate levels of involvement in adolescent girls. Given the widespread use of e-mail, more studies are needed on the effective application of e-mail for health behavior change.
Abroms
Lorien C
LC
Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2175 K Street NW, Room 7015, Washington, DC 20037, USA. sphlca@gwumc.edu
Fagan
Pebbles
P
Eisenberg
Marla E
ME
Lee
Hye-Seung H
HS
Remba
Natania
N
Sorensen
Glorian
G
D000293:Adolescent; D004032:Diet; D034742:Electronic Mail; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008404:Massachusetts; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors