Predictors of engagement and outcome achievement in a behavioural intervention targeting sugar-sweetened beverage intake among rural adults

Abstract

Objective: To describe relationships among baseline characteristics, engagement indicators and outcomes for rural participants enrolled in SIPsmartER, a behavioural intervention targeting sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake.

Design: A secondary data analysis. Bivariate analyses determined relationships among baseline characteristics (e.g. age, gender, race, education, income), engagement indicators (completion of 6-month health screening, class attendance, call completion) and SSB outcomes (SSB ounce reduction (i.e. US fluid ounces; 1 US fl. oz = 29·57 ml), reduced ≥12 ounces, achieved ≤8 ounce intake). Generalized linear models tested for significant effects of baseline characteristics on engagement indicators and of baseline characteristics and engagement indicators on SSB outcomes.

Setting: South-west Virginia, USA, a rural, medically underserved region.

Participants: Participants' (n 155) mean age was 41 years; most were female (81 %), White (91 %) and earned ≤$US 20 000 per annum (61 %).

Results: All final models were significant. Engagement models predicted 12-17 % of variance, with age being a significant predictor in all three models. SSB outcome models explained 5-70 % of variance. Number of classes attended was a significant predictor of SSB ounce reduction (β = -6·12, P < 0·01). Baseline SSB intake significantly predicted SSB ounce reduction (β = -0·90, P < 0·001) and achieved ≤8 ounce intake (β = 0·98, P < 0·05).

Conclusions: The study identifies several participant baseline characteristics that may impact engagement in and outcomes from a community-based intervention targeting SSB intake. Findings suggest greater attendance of SIPsmartER classes is associated with greater reduction in overall SSB intake; yet engagement variables did not predict other outcomes. Findings will inform the future implementation of SIPsmartER and research studies of similar design and intent.

Keywords: Beverages; Completion; Health education; Rural communities; Treatment effectiveness.

Fig. 1

Distribution of participant engagement across intervention components: (a) distribution of health assessment completion, (b) distribution of class attendance rate and (c) distribution of call completion rates, among rural participants (n 155) from south-west Virginia, USA, enrolled in SIPsmartER, a behavioural intervention targeting sugar-sweetened beverage intake, June 2012–June 2014