title: The value of social-cognitive theory to reducing preschool TV viewing: a pilot randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (a) reduce the total amount of television viewing to which preschool children are exposed; and (b) shift the balance of exposure away from commercial television toward educational content.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled clinical trial. Data collected in 2007; analyzed 2008-2011. Participants were 67 English-speaking families in Seattle with a preschool-aged child exposed to more than 90 min of television viewing on average per day. A case manager for each group used in-person conferences, monthly newsletters, and e-mail contact to motivate behavior change around child television viewing (intervention) or child safety (control).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to those in the control group, families randomized to the intervention group experienced a significant reduction by 37 minutes/day in total viewing time (95% CI: 5.6-68.7), including a marginally significant reduction by 29 minutes/day in viewing of commercial content (95% CI: -4.6-63). Compared to those in the control group, those in the intervention group experienced a positive change in outcome expectations. There were no significant changes in self-efficacy or volitional control. An advance in stage-of-change was marginally significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting commercial TV viewing may prove a successful behavioral intervention to achieve public health goals in this population.
authors.affiliation: Fred W. and Pamela K. Wasserman Chair, Department of Health Services, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA. fredzimmerman@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Selena E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Dimitri A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Christakis
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elkun
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013690:Television; D013997:Time Factors