Using a Website to Build Community and Enhance Outcomes in a Group, Multi-component Intervention Promoting Healthy Diet and Exercise in Adolescents

Overview

Journal J Pediatr Psychol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Date 2008 Dec 19

PMID 19091807

Citations 9

Authors

Lynn L DeBar

John Dickerson

Greg Clarke

Victor J Stevens

Cheryl Ritenbaugh

Mikel Aickin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: This article describes website use and behavioral outcomes in a multi-component lifestyle intervention promoting healthy diet and exercise.

Methods: A 2-year randomized clinical trial to improve bone density in 228 adolescent girls, the intervention included a website designed to enhance intervention adherence, retention of participants, and behavioral outcomes. Measures included diet and exercise recalls, surveys, and web-usage data.

Results: Website use was associated with increases in calcium intake (ss = 69.72, p =.01, ES = 0.15) and high-impact activity (ss = 10.93, p =.04, ES =.13). Use of web pages related to behavioral feedback and communications was not significantly associated with behavioral outcomes. The most visited website pages had content related to incentive points, caption contests, and fun facts.

Conclusions: Web elements of a multi-component intervention may promote retention and engagement in target behaviors. Such websites may be most acceptable to adolescent participants if they blend fun and behavioral elements, rather than exclusively focusing on behavioral changes.

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Usability of Health Information Websites Designed for Adolescents: Systematic Review, Neurodevelopmental Model, and Design Brief.

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