Effects of a controlled family-based health education/counseling intervention.
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.
Salminen
Marika
M
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Turku, and Härkätie Health Center, Lieto, Finland. majosa@utu.fi
Vahlberg
Tero
T
Ojanlatva
Ansa
A
Kivelä
Sirkka-Liisa
SL
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