Multiple health behavior changes and co-variation in a telephone counseling trial.
BACKGROUND
Delivering effective multiple health behavior interventions to large numbers of adults with chronic conditions via primary care settings is a public health priority.


OBJECTIVE
Within a 12-month, telephone-delivered diet and physical activity intervention with multiple behavioral outcomes, we examined the extent and co-variation of multiple health behavior change.


METHODS
A cluster-randomized trial with 434 patients with type 2 diabetes or hypertension were recruited from 10 general practices, which were randomized to receive telephone counseling or usual care.


RESULTS
Those receiving telephone counseling were significantly more likely than those in usual care to make greater reductions in multiple behaviors after adjusting for baseline risk behaviors (OR 2.42; 95%CI 1.43, 4.11). Controlling for baseline risk and group allocation, making changes to either physical activity, fat, vegetable, or fiber intake was associated with making significantly more improvements in other behaviors.


CONCLUSIONS
For patients with chronic conditions, telephone counseling can significantly improve multiple health behaviors, with behavioral changes tending to co-vary.
Lawler
Sheleigh P
SP
The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia.
Winkler
Elizabeth
E
Reeves
Marina M
MM
Owen
Neville
N
Graves
Nicholas
N
Eakin
Elizabeth G
EG
D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013689:Telephone