A social marketing theory-based diet-education program for women ages 54 to 83 years improved dietary status.
Social Marketing Theory is a comprehensive approach of program development encompassing the needs and preferences of the intended audience. It was hypothesized a Social Marketing Theory-based, registered dietitian-led, in-home, cardiovascular disease-targeted diet-education program would improve the dietary status of community-residing older women. Using a randomized control group design, this 90-day program in two North Carolina counties included 58 women (30 control; 28 intervention) ages 54 to 83 years. Data were collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, three 3-day food records, and program evaluations. The intervention group received two individual registered dietitian-led in-home education sessions and the control group received education material mailings (Visits 2 and 3). Pretested education materials were used. Visits/mailings were scheduled 28 to 30 days apart. Variables measured included cardiovascular disease-related dietary practices and dietary status (Mini Nutritional Assessment). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired sample t tests, multivariant analyses, and independent t tests. Intervention and control Mini Nutritional Assessment scores improved (P=0.0001). Intervention subjects consumed more fiber than control (P=0.013) and reduced sodium intake (P=0.02). Controls reduced energy (P=0.01) and cholesterol intakes (P=0.029), likely because of the decreased food intake. The majority (n=51, 87.9%) rated the program as good to excellent and almost all (n=55, 94.8%) would recommend the program to a friend. The most popular features of the program were the individualized sessions (n=20, 34.5%) and diet analyses (n=11, 19%). These results suggest that cardiovascular disease diet-education materials utilizing Social Marketing Theory principles can lead to improved dietary status among community-residing older women.
Francis
Sarah L
SL
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, 220 MacKay, Ames, IA 50011-1123, USA. slfranci@iastate.edu
Taylor
Martha L
ML
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D040241:Social Marketing; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary