Randomized trial of a tailored nutrition education CD-ROM program for women receiving food assistance

Abstract

Objective: This article describes the development and randomized evaluation of a tailored nutrition education CD-ROM program for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in North Carolina.

Design: After randomization to intervention or control groups, participants completed a baseline survey and were resurveyed immediately after program use and 1 to 2 months postintervention.

Setting: Two WIC clinics in central North Carolina.

Participants: A total of 307 respondents to the follow-up survey (response rate 74.8%) comprised the study sample. Participants were female (96%), 20% were pregnant, and 50% were minorities (African American and other).

Intervention: The interactive CD-ROM consisted of a targeted video soap opera, dietary assessment, and individually tailored dietary feedback and strategies for change.

Main outcome measures: Measures included total fat and fruit and vegetable intake, knowledge of low-fat and infant feeding choices, self-efficacy, and stages of change.

Analysis: Descriptive statistics assessed baseline comparability of study groups; analysis of covariance and F tests were used to assess program effects at follow-up.

Results: INTERVENTION group members increased self-efficacy (P <.01) and scored significantly higher (P <.05) on both low-fat and infant feeding knowledge compared with controls. No differential effect was observed for dietary intake variables.

Conclusions and implications: The findings suggest that one dose of an interactive CD-ROM program can impact mediators of dietary change but may be insufficient to change behavior.