An Online Nutrition Education Program Targeting Intentions and Related Determinants Towards Dietary Supplement Use: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2025 Feb 13

PMID 39940414

Authors

Jana Daher

Margo Mountjoy

Dalia El Khoury

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Dietary supplement use among varsity athletes is influenced by various psychological and social factors, yet there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of educational interventions in influencing these determinants. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of an online nutrition education program on improvements in intentions and related determinants towards the use of dietary supplements in varsity athletes at the University of Guelph in Canada. The theory of planned behavior served as the theoretical framework for examining these determinants as predictors of behavior change. : A randomized wait-list controlled trial was conducted on a total of 30 varsity athletes, randomized into experimental (n = 18) and control (n = 12) groups. The experimental group received access to an online nutrition education program focused on sports nutrition and dietary supplements, while the control group did not have access during the study. : There was a significant ( < 0.05) intervention effect on varsity athletes' attitudes (Mean1 = 13.17; Mean1 = 13.56; Mean2 = 13.92; Mean2 = 12.11), perceived behavioral control (Mean1 = 15.92; Mean1 = 16.11; Mean2 = 16.33; Mean2 = 18.39), and intentions (Mean1 = 12.5; Mean1 = 12.89; Mean2 = 11.58; Mean2 = 9.44) towards dietary supplement use. No significant changes were made to descriptive and injunctive norms. : These findings suggest that this nutrition education program significantly improved intentions and related determinants towards dietary supplement use in varsity athletes. The absence of a successful change in subjective norm should be a focus for similar future interventions.

References

Outram S, Stewart B . Doping through supplement use: a review of the available empirical data. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015; 25(1):54-9. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0174. View

Conner M, Kirk S, Cade J, Barrett J . Why do women use dietary supplements? The use of the theory of planned behaviour to explore beliefs about their use. Soc Sci Med. 2001; 52(4):621-33. DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(00)00165-9. View

Pawlak R, Connell C, Brown D, Meyer M, Yadrick K . Predictors of multivitamin supplement use among African-American female students: a prospective study utilizing the theory of planned behavior. Ethn Dis. 2005; 15(4):540-7. View

Daher J, Mallick M, El Khoury D . Prevalence of Dietary Supplement Use among Athletes Worldwide: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 2022; 14(19). PMC: 9570738. DOI: 10.3390/nu14194109. View

El Khoury D, Dwyer J, Fein L, Brauer P, Brennan S, Alfaro I . Understanding the Use of Dietary Supplements among Athlete and Non-Athlete University Students: Development and Validation of a Questionnaire. Sports (Basel). 2019; 7(7). PMC: 6680744. DOI: 10.3390/sports7070166. View

Pawlak R, Brown D, Meyer M, Connell C, Yadrick K, Johnson J . Theory of planned behavior and multivitamin supplement use in Caucasian college females. J Prim Prev. 2008; 29(1):57-71. DOI: 10.1007/s10935-008-0127-y. View

Lucidi F, Mallia L, Alivernini F, Chirico A, Manganelli S, Galli F . The Effectiveness of a New School-Based Media Literacy Intervention on Adolescents' Doping Attitudes and Supplements Use. Front Psychol. 2017; 8:749. PMC: 5422551. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00749. View

Armitage C, Conner M . Efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behaviour: a meta-analytic review. Br J Soc Psychol. 2002; 40(Pt 4):471-99. DOI: 10.1348/014466601164939. View

Ajzen I . The theory of planned behaviour is alive and well, and not ready to retire: a commentary on Sniehotta, Presseau, and Araújo-Soares. Health Psychol Rev. 2015; 9(2):131-7. DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2014.883474. View

10.

Barry A . Patients' perceptions and use of natural health products. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2018; 151(4):254-262. PMC: 6141934. DOI: 10.1177/1715163518779409. View

11.

Zhao X, White K, Young R . A TPB-Based Smoking Intervention among Chinese High School Students. Subst Use Misuse. 2019; 54(3):459-472. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1508298. View

12.

Alami A, Tavakoly Sany S, Lael-Monfared E, Ferns G, Tatari M, Hosseini Z . Factors that influence dietary behavior toward iron and vitamin D consumption based on the theory of planned behavior in Iranian adolescent girls. Nutr J. 2019; 18(1):8. PMC: 6366087. DOI: 10.1186/s12937-019-0433-7. View

13.

Garthe I, Maughan R . Athletes and Supplements: Prevalence and Perspectives. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2018; 28(2):126-138. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0429. View

14.

Manning M . The effects of subjective norms on behaviour in the theory of planned behaviour: a meta-analysis. Br J Soc Psychol. 2009; 48(Pt 4):649-705. DOI: 10.1348/014466608X393136. View

15.

Little J, Perry D, Volpe S . Effect of nutrition supplement education on nutrition supplement knowledge among high school students from a low-income community. J Community Health. 2002; 27(6):433-50. DOI: 10.1023/a:1020653202522. View

16.

McEachan R, Taylor N, Harrison R, Lawton R, Gardner P, Conner M . Meta-Analysis of the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) to Understanding Health Behaviors. Ann Behav Med. 2016; 50(4):592-612. PMC: 4933736. DOI: 10.1007/s12160-016-9798-4. View

17.

El Khoury D, Tabakos M, Dwyer J, Mountjoy M . Determinants of supplementation among Canadian university students: a theory of planned behavior perspective. J Am Coll Health. 2021; 71(6):1957-1965. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1951276. View

18.

Zhu X, Xie X . Effects of Knowledge on Attitude Formation and Change Toward Genetically Modified Foods. Risk Anal. 2015; 35(5):790-810. DOI: 10.1111/risa.12319. View

19.

Lino S, Hopp Marshak H, Herring R, Belliard J, Hilliard C, Campbell D . Using the theory of planned behavior to explore attitudes and beliefs about dietary supplements among HIV-positive Black women. Complement Ther Med. 2014; 22(2):400-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.03.002. View