Focus groups inform a web-based program to increase fruit and vegetable intake.
OBJECTIVE
To use focus groups to inform a web-based educational intervention for increased fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption.


METHODS
Twelve groups (participants=137, aged 21-65) were recruited from four geographically diverse health systems. Four groups were stratified by gender and eight by race (white and African American) and gender. Questions included perceptions of healthy eating, factors that encourage or serve as barriers to FV consumption and features preferred for a web-based educational intervention.


RESULTS
Though knowledgeable about healthy eating, participants did not know how to achieve or always care about healthy nutritional choices. Motivators for FV consumption included being role models and health concerns. Barriers included: lack of time, expense and FV availability. Website preferences included: visuals, links, tailored materials, menu suggestions, goal setting assistance, printable summaries and built in motivation. The developers incorporated nearly all suggestions.


CONCLUSIONS
Focus groups provided needs-based tactical strategies for an online, education intervention targeting factors to improve FV consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
Focus groups can provide valuable input to inform interventions. Further, web-based programs' abilities to offer information without time or geographic constraints, with capacity for tailoring and tracking progress makes them a valuable addition in the arsenal of efforts to promote healthy behaviors.
Rolnick
Sharon J
SJ
HealthPartners Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1524, USA. cheri.j.rolnick@healthPartners.com
Calvi
Josephine
J
Heimendinger
Jerianne
J
McClure
Jennifer B
JB
Kelley
Mary
M
Johnson
Christine
C
Alexander
Gwen L
GL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014675:Vegetables