• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8809-8814
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• 2014

The objective of this paper is to present the implementation and process evaluation of the first computer tailored program for smoking cessation among Romanian smokers. The program targeted adult smokers who declared the intention to quit smoking in the next six months. The intervention consisted of a letter tailored to several respondent characteristics: gender, cognitive variables (attitude, social influence, and self-efficacy), intention to quit smoking, goal and relapse prevention strategies (action and coping plans), and smoking behaviour. The first 80 participants entered into the program filled in a process evaluation questionnaire one month after the intervention. The results of our study confirmed that the participants had read and remembered the letter. Moreover, new for Romania, this approach was positively appreciated by the participant and the score received for the tailored letter was high. The opinions of the participants confirmed that the tailored letter provided information that was useful, trustworthy and relevant for the individual. At the same time, the participants appreciated the polite, easy to understand content of the letter. These data underlined the premises for continuing the program and for using the information and communication technologies for healthy lifestyle promotion among Romanian population.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2003

Dietary counseling is undoubtedly important for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Several dietary counseling methods have been developed and used in Japan to promote healthier diets. However, in Japan, few studies have established effective counseling methods. We developed a computer-assisted tailored dietary counseling system with self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ) to assess nutrient intakes and the feedbacks for counseling. We examined the effectiveness of the system in three studies , two among mildly-hypercholesterolemic and one among healthy subjects. We observed significant changes in intakes of targeted nutrients in all three studies. We also observed favorable changes in the corresponding serum and urinary biomarkers in two studies, i.e., non-significant change in serum cholesterol, serum carotene and vitamin C, and a significant change in 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium. In addition, one of the studies observed a significant modified dietary habit for one-year after the intervention was completed. No unfavorable change was observed for non-targeted nutrients in all three studies. The dietary counseling system with DHQ was concluded to be effective among motivated high-risk and healthy subjects. The system's application to other diseases and populations such as children, adolescents, and elderly, should be examined further. (J Community Nutrition 5(2) : 112-119, 2003)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.489-499
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• 2010

The effects of a nutritional education program for first grade middle school students were evaluated from August to December, 2006. The study subjects were 82 boys and 90 girls, residing in Gwangju, Korea. To assess the effects of the nutritional education program, pre- and post-questionnaires examining nutritional knowledge, dietary attitudes, and dietary habits were developed. Paired t-test and repeated measures ANOVA were used to evaluate the effects of the nutritional education program. In the general subject, the main after-school activities were studying, watching TV, and using computer (85.5%), and sports (9.3%), suggesting their low physical activity. Parents (46.5%) were indicated as the source of nutritional education rather than teachers (13.4%). Twenty-five percent of girl students had diet experience of skipping meals (54.6%), suggesting the need of proper nutritional education for adolescents' health care. In dietary attitudes, both genders showed some improvement of recognition after education. In the changes in dietary habits, both genders had a significant effect on 'three meals a day, eating breakfast, and regular meal' after education. After education, the rate of having breakfast everyday increased from 52.4% to 65.9% for boys and from 33.3%to 57.8% for girls. In the changes in nutritional knowledge, the appreciation of the importance of school meals increased in both genders from 50.6% to 80.8% after education. The nutritional knowledge, scores of regular eating and well-mannered eating increased in both genders regardless of the students' characteristics. The study results revealed that this education provided an important motivation to improve basic nutritional knowledge and dietary habit. It is recommended to develop systematic and various educational programs and learning materials tailored to subjects before nutritional education.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.96-108
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate health-related factors, nutrition knowledge and food habits of college students in Wonju. Methods: A total of 442 (male: 221, female: 221) college students were recruited and a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. The general characteristics, health-related factors, nutrition knowledge, and food habits were investigated and data were analyzed using SPSS WIN (ver 21.0). Results: The body mass index ($22.9kg/m^2$ vs $20.9kg/m^2$, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the males. The ratio of weight (p < 0.001) was significantly different between males and females. Health-related factor scores 'Exercise (p < 0.001)', 'Number of exercise (p < 0.001)', 'Times of exercise (p < 0.01)', 'Concerns about health (p < 0.05)', 'Health condition (p < 0.001)' were significantly higher in the males. 'Type of exercise (p < 0.001)' was significantly different between males and females. Score on 'Watching TV & computer games (p < 0.01)' was significantly higher in the females. Smoking (p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the males. Type of beverages consumed (p < 0.001) was significantly different between males and females. Nutrition knowledge score (11.8 vs 12.9, p < 0.05) was significantly higher in the females. Scores on 'Iron deficiency is leading to anemia (p < 0.01)' and 'carbonated beverages, such as coke, have no calorie (p< 0.05)' were significantly higher in the females. Food habits score (56.4 vs 53.7, p < 0.01) was significantly higher in the males. Scores on 'I have three meals a day (p < 0.01)', 'I have breakfast regularly (p < 0.001)', 'I have meals on time (p < 0.001)', 'I do exercise every day (p < 0.001)', 'I don't eat junk food often (p < 0.05)', 'I don't eat sweet food often (p < 0.05)', and 'I don't eat out often (p < 0.05)' were significantly higher in the males. Conclusions: Nutritional education for college students is needed in order to improve their health and nutritional education program should be tailored to meet various needs of these students.