Evaluation of Tailor-Made Intervention Programs Regarding Dietary Behavior Modification and Exercise Habits Acquisition in Town Healthcare Room

Kanzaki, Hatsumi

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Hatsumi Kanzaki, PhD
Research Institute of Nursing Care for People & Community, University of Hyogo, Akashi, Japan

Learning Objective 1: THR is defined as a place where local residents can consult casually with nursing professionals, in a manner similar to visiting the school nurses’ room.

Learning Objective 2: Almost all in New-program group modified their behavior with tailor-made intervention programs, but, did not show any statistically significant difference in body measurements.

Purpose:Most community members who participate in our monthly charge-free healthcare activity, “Town Healthcare Room (THR)” are initially highly motivated to maintain health by themselves. However, even when people are highly motivated to maintain their health, it is difficult for them to modify dietary behavior and acquire exercise habits in daily life. In this study, tailor-made intervention programs using the transtheoretical model for dietary behavior modification and exercise guidance were designed for THR participants and effects of 6-month intervention were evaluated.

Methods: This study designed as random assignment experimental study was comprised of practical target setups based on participants’ responses to the exercise and diet questionnaires, self-monitoring, tailor-made exercise programs, body measurement, and telephone follow-ups. The goals were effective reduction of body weight, BMI, body fat, visceral fat, increase of muscle ratio, dietary behavior modification, and exercise habit acquisition in 6 months. One-hour interviews were held with participants when completing intervention. The study was conducted from October 2009 through August 2010 after obtaining the consent of the ethical committee in our organization.

Results: 26 participants (13 each for New-program group and Usual-care group) completed the 6-month programs. New-program group and Usual-care group had no significant difference at the beginning. Interviews with New-program group indicated remarkable outcomes; 92% (12 persons) modified their dietary behaviors, 92% acquired exercise habits, and 95% recorded self-monitoring results(Description rate). Nevertheless, no significant difference was found between those groups regarding body weight, BMI, body fat, visceral fat, and muscle ratio in 3 and 6 months.

Conclusion: Almost all in New-program group modified their behavior with tailor-made intervention programs, but, did not show any statistically significant difference in body weight, BMI, body fat, visceral fat, and muscle ratio within the group or from Usual-care group.

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