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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Oct;47(4):369-77.
doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2008.06.013. Epub 2008 Jun 28.

Motivation, self-efficacy, physical activity and nutrition in college students: randomized controlled trial of an internet-based education program

Debra L Franko  1 , Tara M Cousineau, Meredith Trant, Traci Craig Green, Diana Rancourt, Douglas Thompson, Jessica Ainscough, Laurie B Mintz, Michele Ciccazzo
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Motivation, self-efficacy, physical activity and nutrition in college students: randomized controlled trial of an internet-based education program

Debra L Franko et al. Prev Med. 2008 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: MyStudentBody.com-Nutrition (MSB-N) is an internet-based nutrition and physical activity education program for college students.

Method: Students from six universities (N=476) in the U.S. were randomly assigned in the fall of 2005 to one of three groups: MSB-N (Experimental I), MSB-N plus Booster (Experimental II), or an attention placebo control group.

Results: Experimental I and II group participants increased their fruit and vegetable intake by .33 and .24 servings, respectively, relative to the control group at post-test. Both experimental groups improved their motivation to change eating behaviors (p<.05) and were also more likely to increase their social support and self-efficacy for dietary change (p's<.05). Experimental groups also improved their attitude toward exercise (p<.05), but no behavioral changes in physical activity were noted.

Conclusion: MyStudentBody.com-Nutrition is an effective internet-based program that may have wide applicability on college campuses for nutrition education and promoting change in health behaviors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest or relevant financial relationships.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent advancing one or more stages compared with baseline on Fruit & Vegetables Stages of Change. Error bars represent the upper limit of the 95% CI. Data were collected in 2005–06 at Northeastern University, College of Charleston, Florida Atlantic University, University of Missouri - St. Louis and Columbia campuses, and Florida International University.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percent advancing one or more stages compared with baseline on Fats Stages of Change. Error bars represent the upper limit of the 95% CI. Data were collected in 2005–06 at Northeastern University, College of Charleston, Florida Atlantic University, University of Missouri - St. Louis and Columbia campuses, and Florida International University.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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