Telephone counseling promotes dietary change in healthy adults: results of a pilot trial.
Telephone counseling is increasingly reported to be an effective behavior change strategy, but more studies in broader populations are needed. This uncontrolled pilot trial investigated whether a 3-month/eight-call telephone counseling intervention could promote dietary changes associated with reduced chronic disease risk in adults consuming <5.0 servings of vegetables and fruits daily. Between 2002 and 2004, 97 adults (mean age 46 years; range 21 to 84 years) completed the intervention and a follow-up assessment at 6 months. Approximately half were of nonwhite ethnicity (53%). The majority were women (95%) and had never had cancer (89%). The intervention promoted daily intakes of three to five vegetable servings, two to four fruit servings, and three whole-grain and/or beans/legumes servings. Average total daily intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans/legumes, fiber, and fat were assessed at baseline and at 6 months, each by a set of three 24-hour recalls. Plasma carotenoids were measured on a subsample (n=41) as an objective biomarker of vegetable and fruit intake. Change in mean self-reported dietary intake (ie, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans/legumes, fiber, and fat) and plasma carotenoids were compared by paired t tests. The intervention was associated with a significant (P<0.001) increase in vegetable servings per day (baseline 2.1 servings per day, 6 months 3.5 servings per day; 67% increase), fruit servings per day (baseline 1.4 servings per day, 6 months 2.4 servings per day; 71% increase), and whole-grain and/or bean servings per day (baseline 1.0 serving per day, 6 months 1.4 servings per day; 40% increase). These changes were corroborated by a significant (P<0.001) increase in total plasma carotenoids. This 3-month/eight-call telephone counseling intervention was associated with dietary change in healthy adults consuming fewer than five servings per day of vegetables and fruit at study entry.
Newman
Vicky A
VA
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0901, USA. vinewman@ucsd.edu
Flatt
Shirley W
SW
Pierce
John P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004046:Dietetics / Q000379:methods*; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States; D014675:Vegetables
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D002338:Carotenoids