Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .
The Effectiveness of Tailored Feedback and Action Plans in an Intervention Addressing Multiple Health Behaviors
Purpose . Examine the effects of three iterative tailored feedback letters addressing smoking ; physical activity ; and fruit , vegetable , and fat intake , and test the additional effects of providing feedback on action plans . Design . A tailored , print-based intervention was developed and tested in a r and omized control trial with a posttest after 9 months . Setting . A total of 2827 respondents agreed to participate . They were recruited from a r and om sample of 35,000 addresses obtained through the Dutch national telephone company . Subjects . The mean age was 49 years , and 55 % were female . Intervention . The experimental group received three printed tailored letters , and the control group received three printed generic letters . Respondents from the experimental group r and omly received either a third letter with tailored information or tailored information and action-planning feedback . Measures . The question naire assessed physical activity ; smoking ; consumption of fruit , vegetables and fat ; motivational determinants ; action plans ; and demographics . Results . Tailored information result ed in more improvement over time than generic information for the intake of fruit , vegetables , and fat and for physical activity . No differences between the conditions were found for smoking because of high cessation rates in all conditions . Action-planning feedback did not increase the effects . Conclusions . Tailored lifestyle information can be effective for adults in changing nutrition behavior and physical activity
Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .