Abstract
Objective: One-shot education interventions can be effective to change health behavior, as in periodic health promotion prompts targeting workers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a stage-based health education program utilizing correspondence teaching materials.
Methods: A health education trial was carried out on 63 workers (aged 20 to 60) who completed a baseline questionnaire in a university cooperative. Participants were divided into two groups, a health education intervention group and a control group. Of the 63 participants, 40 workers (17 from the intervention group, 23 from the control group) completed the post-intervention questionnaire and were included in the final analysis.
Results: The health education intervention group showed a significant increase from baseline to post-intervention levels of performance in terms of mean score on measures of dietary behavior, consciousness raising, environmental reevaluation, self-reevaluation, and helping relationships. However, no significant changes were seen in either of the two groups on stages or processes of dietary behavior or on exercise behavior. In the intervention group, 10 out of 17 participants undertook and completed more than 50% of the teaching materials; most of these 10 were in the preparation and post-preparation stages of change. Most participants who were unable to complete the exercises stated the reason as being pressed for time.
Conclusion: The observed positive changes suggest that the correspondence teaching materials were effective for individuals reaching the preparation stage of change, who are interested in improving their health and in need of applicable methods and information.
