title: Effects of a controlled family-based health education/counseling intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the effects of a controlled family-based health education/counseling intervention on health behaviors of children with a familial history of cardiovascular diseases (FH-CVDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention group (IG, n=432) received 5 counseling sessions. The control groups 1 (CG1, n=200) and 2 (CG2, n=423) received no counseling. Outcome measures comprised changes in diet, exercise, and cigarette smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The changes in the use of fats and salt, and in exercise, were more favorable in IG than in CG1 and/or CG2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health education/counseling produced positive effects on diet and nutrition in particular and in part in exercise.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Turku, and Härkätie Health Center, Lieto, Finland. majosa@utu.fi
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: Tero
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.forename: Ansa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ojanlatva
authors.forename: Sirkka-Liisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kivelä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003376:Counseling; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male