Impact of a stage-tailored, web-based intervention on folic acid-containing multivitamin use by college women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine effectiveness of a Web-based, stage-tailored folic acid intervention compared to non-stage-tailored education to promote folic acid-containing multivitamin use among college women.


METHODS
Pretest/posttest with random assignment to groups.


METHODS
Internet-based on college campus.


METHODS
Female college students (n = 408; mean age +/- SD = 20.8 +/- 2.6; range 18-29 years).


METHODS
Transtheoretical Model-based folic acid modules delivered over 4 weeks. Traditional brochure formatted online for nontailored group.


METHODS
Questionnaire assessing stage of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance.


METHODS
Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results Of the participants who reported not taking a multivitamin at pretest, a greater proportion of participants in the tailored group (32.6%; n = 47) reported taking a multivitamin at posttest than in the nontailored group (19.9%; n = 27), chi(2)(1, n = 280) = 5.9, p = .015. At posttest tailored intervention participants were 2.5 times more likely to be in a later stage of change (odds ratio [OR] = 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.52, 3.99; p = .0003) and 2.3 times more likely to be in action (OR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.28, 4.01; p = .005) than nontailored participants. They also had greater increases in self-efficacy and pros. Movement from precontemplation to a later stage occurred significantly more often in the tailored than in the nontailored group. Conclusion Stage-tailored vs. traditional folic acid education was more effective in improving stage of readiness to consume a folic acid-containing multivitamin. The Internet was a successful medium for targeting college females for preconception health care education.
Milan
Julie E
JE
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5735, USA. julie_milan@umit.maine.edu
White
Adrienne A
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D013334:Students; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid