Biomedical subjects

I Steenhuis

Publications and source records attributed to I Steenhuis.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Process evaluation of two environmental nutrition programmes and an educational nutrition programme conducted at supermarkets and worksite cafeterias in the Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: This article describes the process evaluation of two environmental programmes and an educational nutrition programme, implemented at supermarkets and worksite cafeterias. Studies conducted earlier, indicated that the programmes had no effect on consumers' eating behaviour. Consequently, the more specific purpose of the present study was to identify explanations for the ineffectiveness of the programmes and to formulate recommendations for future programmes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The environmental programmes included labelling of healthy products and increasing the range of healthy foods on offer. The education programme consisted of several elements, such as brochures and a self-help guide. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 managers of supermarkets and worksite cafeterias where the programmes were implemented. RESULTS: Although materials were not always entirely compatible with the different supermarkets and worksite cafeterias, the degree of implementation was satisfactory. According to the managers, the programmes were not striking enough, the labelling would have been more effective if it had discriminated between different brands of a product, and the number of new products was too small compared with the total range of foods on offer. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that programmes should be promoted intensively. Furthermore, the relevant manufacturers and wholesalers supplying worksite cafeterias should be encouraged to increase their range of suitable low-fat products. Finally, the feasibility and possible effects of brand-specific labelling should be investigated further.

Feeding Behavior↗

PubMed2001

The relative validity of a short Dutch questionnaire as a means to categorize adults and adolescents to total and saturated fat intake.

BACKGROUND: To assess the relative validity of a short food frequency questionnaire, the Fat list, to be used in (the evaluation of) nutrition education programmes. METHODS: Forty-five adults and 50 adolescents (12-18 years old) completed the Fat list at home, and subsequently kept diet records for seven subsequent days. RESULTS: Pearson correlations of about 0.7 for adults and 0.6 for adolescents were observed between fat scores derived from the Fat list and total and saturated fat intake in grams estimated by the 7-day diet records. Correlations varied among subpopulations based on sex, age, education, household size and responsibility for cooking and shopping. Lower correlations were especially found for female adolescents and older adolescents (16-18 years old). Pearson correlations between the Fat list and percentages energy from fat were low for both adults and adolescents. Gross misclassification, defined as disagreement between the two fat consumption assessments beyond an adjacent tertile, was less than 6% for all but the female adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The Fat list can be used in adult and male adolescent populations to classify subjects in broad categories of total and saturated fat intake in grams and to assess differences in absolute and saturated fat intake between groups as a result of nutrition education programmes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Computer-tailored nutrition education: differences between two interventions.

The impact of two computer-tailored nutrition education interventions was assessed and compared in a randomized trial among 315 subjects with a pre-test-post-test comparison group design. Respondents in both the experimental and the comparison group received feedback tailored to their consumption of fat, fruit and vegetables. Respondents in the experimental group received additional psychosocial feedback tailored to their attitudes, perceived social support and self-efficacy expectations towards reducing their fat consumption and increasing their consumption of fruit and vegetables. A significant reduction in fat consumption and increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables were found in both the experimental and the comparison group between pre-test and post-test. Respondents in the experimental group more often indicated that the feedback they received was interesting and easy to understand. Respondents in the comparison group more often reported having reduced their fat consumption because of the feedback they received. No significant differences in consumption of fat, fruit and vegetables were found at post-test between the experimental group and the comparison group. These results do not support the hypothesis that additional psychosocial information is an essential component of effective tailored feedback. The results indicate that tailored feedback might be effective in inducing dietary changes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of a computer-tailored nutrition intervention.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition education tailored to individual characteristics of people might be more effective than general nutrition education. Nowadays, the use of computers makes individualized feedback available for larger groups. METHODS: The impact of tailored nutrition information on changes in fat, vegetable, and fruit consumption was tested in a randomized trial among 347 employees of a major oil company. Respondents in the experimental group received computer-generated feedback letters tailored to their personal dietary behavior, attitudes, perceived social influences, self-efficacy expectations, and awareness levels. Respondents in the control group received general nutrition information. RESULTS: Respondents in the experimental group decreased their fat consumption significantly more than the control group between baseline and posttest. A significant effect of tailoring was also found for changes in attitudes and intentions toward reducing fat intake and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Furthermore, respondents in the experimental group were more satisfied with the nutrition information they received and more often reported changing their diet or intention as a result of the information. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that computer-tailored nutrition information is a promising means of stimulating people to change their diet toward dietary recommendations.

Analysis of Variance↗