Sutheera Satsue. The development of information technology-assisted counseling approach to modifying bone health promotion behavior among late adolescent women. Master's Degree(Nutrition). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2008.
The development of information technology-assisted counseling approach to modifying bone health promotion behavior among late adolescent women
Abstract:
Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disease, which has significantly increased with
the growing number of people in the world. The most important cause of osteoporosis
in Thais is a calcium intake that is lower than the recommended daily allowance per
day. Maximizing peak bone mass is a main principle of osteoporosis prevention. This
can be done through having an adequate daily dietary calcium intake and by
performing weight-bearing physical activity, but these must be done from a young
age. The main objective of this research was to study the effects of an information
technology (IT)-assisted counseling on modifying bone health promotion behaviors.
The target samples were 40 late adolescent women, aged 18-20 years, who were
undergraduate students living in a university dormitory. These participants had a
dietary calcium intake less than 600 mg/day. They were divided into two groups by
randomization. The subjects in the experimental group obtained an IT-assisted
counseling approach (counseling by mobile phone or e-mail). The comparison group
obtained a traditional counseling approach (face-to-face counseling). Data were
collected using questionnaires and a self-evaluation handbook. The study period
covered 8 weeks. Nutrient analysis was conducted using the INMUCAL program.
Statistical analysis was performed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, the
Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed- Ranks test.
Results showed that after intervention the experimental groups knowledge,
attitude and practice scores increased significantly. Only the knowledge scores of the
comparison group had increased significantly. The average amount of daily dietary
calcium intake for the comparison and experimental groups increased to 721 and 816
mg/day, respectively. However, the means of all variables were not significantly
different when the two groups were compared. IT-assisted counseling reduced
barriers, particularly time and the cost of traveling. However, traditional counseling
provided better continuous cooperation throughout the study period. There were no
significant differences regarding counseling process evaluation scores between the
two groups. Both counseling approaches brought about an increase in dietary calcium
intake.