A randomised trial of the short-term effect of a minimal nutrition intervention in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effectiveness of a minimal nutrition intervention to increase dietary intake of folate.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial in the general practice setting of personalized, face-to-face feedback with educational materials to increase dietary intake of folate.


RESULTS
One hundred and nine intervention and 94 control subjects completed baseline and follow-up assessments within the study period. At baseline (August-October 2004), there were no significant differences in folate intake scores between the intervention and control groups. At the eight-week follow-up, the mean folate intake score in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group, indicating that the nutrition intervention significantly increased reported dietary intake of folate.


CONCLUSIONS
Presenting individual dietary feedback in conjunction with educational materials in the general practice setting is an effective way of changing dietary behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests a way in which health-related dietary change may be encouraged on a large scale without incurring a large cost.
Hickling
Siobhan
S
School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia. siobhan.hickling@uwa.edu.au
Knuiman
Matthew
M
Jamrozik
Konrad
K
Hung
Joseph
J
D005194:Family Practice; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia
D005492:Folic Acid